DOI Page / Citation link:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.6915#0048
34
FINE ARTS OF THE ENGLISH SCHOOL.
enjoying the height of his intellectual power, and at the happiest period of his
executive skill : at the same time they exhibit great fertility of invention, with
sweetness and delicacy of sentiment.
He was happily endowed with an inquisitive mind, that delighted in science,
and pursued it warmly with the best means he had : and he possessed a versa-
tility of genius, which is exemplified by the variety of subjects he chose for
representation. Both the comic and the serious impressions of the mind had
charms for him. Early in life he painted two pictures from Tristram Shandy :
one the arrival of Dr. Slop at Shandy Hall, after the unlucky catastrophe he
met with on the road, which afforded scope for sentimental comic humour;
the other, from the affecting story of the Death of Le Fevre : and both of them
were highly approved for truth and propriety of feeling and expression, though
differing so widely in their effects upon the mind.
His journey to Italy expanded his view of art: new scenes, and new sources
of information were presented to him, of which he did not neglect to avail
himself. The works of fancy he produced after his return home, exemplify the
use he made of the two years he spent among the unrivalled productions of art
he there met with. The purity and perfection of ancient sculpture appear to
have made the deepest impression upon his mind; and he afterwards assiduously
cherished the taste he then imbibed, by procuring a collection of casts from the
best models of ancient statues, groups, basso-relievos, &c. which he would sit by
the hour to contemplate; examining their appearances under all changes of
sunshine and common daylight; and with lamps, prepared on purpose, he would
try their effects in various modes of illumination, with rapturous delight.
Hence, grandeur and simplicity became the principal objects of his ambition :
he perceived these qualities distinctly, and employed them judiciously; even
whilst imitating nature in his most usual occupation, portrait painting. To
present his figure, or tell his story, with simple undisturbed effect, rejecting all
unnecessary minutiae, was the point he aimed at, and obtained.
On his return from the Continent his zeal for historical painting revived, or
rather became strengthened. In several epistles to Mr. Hayley, he laments his
confinement to portraits: in one he says, " this cursed portrait painting, how I
am shackled with it! I am determined to live frugally, and cut it short as soon
FINE ARTS OF THE ENGLISH SCHOOL.
enjoying the height of his intellectual power, and at the happiest period of his
executive skill : at the same time they exhibit great fertility of invention, with
sweetness and delicacy of sentiment.
He was happily endowed with an inquisitive mind, that delighted in science,
and pursued it warmly with the best means he had : and he possessed a versa-
tility of genius, which is exemplified by the variety of subjects he chose for
representation. Both the comic and the serious impressions of the mind had
charms for him. Early in life he painted two pictures from Tristram Shandy :
one the arrival of Dr. Slop at Shandy Hall, after the unlucky catastrophe he
met with on the road, which afforded scope for sentimental comic humour;
the other, from the affecting story of the Death of Le Fevre : and both of them
were highly approved for truth and propriety of feeling and expression, though
differing so widely in their effects upon the mind.
His journey to Italy expanded his view of art: new scenes, and new sources
of information were presented to him, of which he did not neglect to avail
himself. The works of fancy he produced after his return home, exemplify the
use he made of the two years he spent among the unrivalled productions of art
he there met with. The purity and perfection of ancient sculpture appear to
have made the deepest impression upon his mind; and he afterwards assiduously
cherished the taste he then imbibed, by procuring a collection of casts from the
best models of ancient statues, groups, basso-relievos, &c. which he would sit by
the hour to contemplate; examining their appearances under all changes of
sunshine and common daylight; and with lamps, prepared on purpose, he would
try their effects in various modes of illumination, with rapturous delight.
Hence, grandeur and simplicity became the principal objects of his ambition :
he perceived these qualities distinctly, and employed them judiciously; even
whilst imitating nature in his most usual occupation, portrait painting. To
present his figure, or tell his story, with simple undisturbed effect, rejecting all
unnecessary minutiae, was the point he aimed at, and obtained.
On his return from the Continent his zeal for historical painting revived, or
rather became strengthened. In several epistles to Mr. Hayley, he laments his
confinement to portraits: in one he says, " this cursed portrait painting, how I
am shackled with it! I am determined to live frugally, and cut it short as soon