DOI Page / Citation link:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.19574#0152
COM 137
and a fhield ; and in the other a javelin, with a helmet on her
head. Her deportmem, like Minerva, (hews that wifdom i$
the principle of good government j the helmet, that the repub-
lic ought to be well fortified, and ^ecured from foreign force.
The olive and dart, that peace and war are both beneficial to
the Commonwealth ; war, becaufe by experience valour is at-
tained ; peace, becaufe by leifure prudence to govern is acquired.
COMPASSION. The lively attention to the misfortunes
of others, which is called Companion, caufes the eye-brows to
fink towards the middle of the forehead ; the eye ball to be fixed
upon the object ; the fides of the noftrils next the nofe to be a
little elevated, making wrinkles in the cheeks j the mouth to be
open ; the upper lip to be lifted up, and thruff forwards ; the
mufcles and all the parts of the face finning down and turning
towards the object, which caufes the paffion. And by thefe ex-
preffions it is to be reprefented in drawing. See plate III.
Compassion is reprefented, in painting, &c. by a woman
holding a pelican's neft in her left hand, who, piercing her
breaft, feems to fuckle her young ones with her blood ; fhe ex-
tends her hand in a companionate manner to beftow charity on
the indigent. The pelican is a true emblem of Companion, for
fhe is faid never to ftir from her young, and, when her nourifh-
ment fails, fhe feeds them with her own blood. Her extended
hand denotes her readinefs to relieve with her own fubftance.
COMPLAINT to God, is reprefented, in painting, Sic. by
a woman cloathed in a white veil, of a forrowful countenance,
looking up to heaven ; laving one hand upon her breafrs, (hew-
ing the other bitten by ferpents. Her cheeks, bathed in tears,
demonftrate her Complaint ; her look?, that fhe directs her
Complaint to God ; her hands denote the reafon of her Com-
plaint to be fome offence, fignified by the ferpent; her white rai-
ment, and hand upon her breaft, denote innocence.
COMPOSITION, is putting together, for the advantage of
the whole, what fhall be judged proper to be the feveral parts of
a picture; either as being efTential to it, or becaufe they are
thought neceflary for the common benefit : And, moreover, the
determination of the painter, as to certain attitudes and colours,
which are otherwife indifferent.
The Compofition of a picture is of vaft confequence to the
goodnefs of it; it is what fir ft of all prefents itfelf to the eye, and
prejudices us in favour of, or with an averfion to it; it is this that
direcfs us to the ideas that are to be conveyed by the painter, and
in what order; and the eye is delighted with the harmony at the
fame time as the underftanding is improved. Whereas, this be-
ing ill, though the feveral parts are fine, the picture is trouble-
fome to look upon, and like a book, in which are many good
thoughts, but flung in confufedly, and without method.
Every
and a fhield ; and in the other a javelin, with a helmet on her
head. Her deportmem, like Minerva, (hews that wifdom i$
the principle of good government j the helmet, that the repub-
lic ought to be well fortified, and ^ecured from foreign force.
The olive and dart, that peace and war are both beneficial to
the Commonwealth ; war, becaufe by experience valour is at-
tained ; peace, becaufe by leifure prudence to govern is acquired.
COMPASSION. The lively attention to the misfortunes
of others, which is called Companion, caufes the eye-brows to
fink towards the middle of the forehead ; the eye ball to be fixed
upon the object ; the fides of the noftrils next the nofe to be a
little elevated, making wrinkles in the cheeks j the mouth to be
open ; the upper lip to be lifted up, and thruff forwards ; the
mufcles and all the parts of the face finning down and turning
towards the object, which caufes the paffion. And by thefe ex-
preffions it is to be reprefented in drawing. See plate III.
Compassion is reprefented, in painting, &c. by a woman
holding a pelican's neft in her left hand, who, piercing her
breaft, feems to fuckle her young ones with her blood ; fhe ex-
tends her hand in a companionate manner to beftow charity on
the indigent. The pelican is a true emblem of Companion, for
fhe is faid never to ftir from her young, and, when her nourifh-
ment fails, fhe feeds them with her own blood. Her extended
hand denotes her readinefs to relieve with her own fubftance.
COMPLAINT to God, is reprefented, in painting, Sic. by
a woman cloathed in a white veil, of a forrowful countenance,
looking up to heaven ; laving one hand upon her breafrs, (hew-
ing the other bitten by ferpents. Her cheeks, bathed in tears,
demonftrate her Complaint ; her look?, that fhe directs her
Complaint to God ; her hands denote the reafon of her Com-
plaint to be fome offence, fignified by the ferpent; her white rai-
ment, and hand upon her breaft, denote innocence.
COMPOSITION, is putting together, for the advantage of
the whole, what fhall be judged proper to be the feveral parts of
a picture; either as being efTential to it, or becaufe they are
thought neceflary for the common benefit : And, moreover, the
determination of the painter, as to certain attitudes and colours,
which are otherwife indifferent.
The Compofition of a picture is of vaft confequence to the
goodnefs of it; it is what fir ft of all prefents itfelf to the eye, and
prejudices us in favour of, or with an averfion to it; it is this that
direcfs us to the ideas that are to be conveyed by the painter, and
in what order; and the eye is delighted with the harmony at the
fame time as the underftanding is improved. Whereas, this be-
ing ill, though the feveral parts are fine, the picture is trouble-
fome to look upon, and like a book, in which are many good
thoughts, but flung in confufedly, and without method.
Every