DOI Seite / Zitierlink:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.6915#0076
58
FINE ARTS OF THE ENGLISH SCHOOL.
them have lived in obscurity, and died in indigence. To account for this seeming
paradox, many reasons may be assigned ;----First, the vast difficulties of art render
its higher branches unattainable to nine-tenths of those persons who profess, or
pretend to study it : Second, Sir Joshua never having received a well-founded
education in the principles of painting, was forced to make his own way by the
efforts of genius, and unwearied industry : hence all those excellences which he
possessed could not be imparted, or taught to another, and what could be taught,
he did not sufficiently possess. It is art which the scholar is to learn, and not
genius. Sir Joshua seems to have disdained the rules of art, and generally
snatched a grace beyond them. In short we must conclude, that, whatever may
be the reason, he was not the master to produce good scholars. Yet, like his
predecessor, Kneller, he occasioned imitators, in myriads ; and this proneness to
imitation has not yet ceased to infest the country. The young painter, however,
who daubs because Sir Joshua daubed, is like the fool who purchased the lamp
of Epictetus. J. N.
To the preceding memoir, from the pen of Sir Joshua's pupil, and an artist of considerable eminence,
I am tempted to subjoin the following lines, by the amiable Goldsmith. They constitute a part of his
much-admired poem — Retaliation,—and are at once an honour to the head of the writer, and to the
character of the artist. Like the fascinating paintings of Sir Joshua, the writings of Goldsmith will
always please, and though often examined, will never seem dull, tame, or insipid.
" Here Reynolds is laid, and, to tell you my mind,
He has not left a wiser, or better behind :
His pencil was striking, resistless, and grand ;
His manners were gentle, complying, and bland ;
Still born to improve us in every part,
His pencil our faces, his manners our hearts :
To coxcombs averse, yet most civilly steering,
When they judg'd without skill he was still hard of hearing ;
When they talk'd of their Raffaelles, Corregios, and stuff,
He shifted his trumpet* and only took snuff."
* Sir Joshua, being rather deaf, used an ear-trumpet. A very fine portrait of himself, in the collection at Streatham, shows
a front view of his face with his open hand to his ear.
END OF THE MEMOIR.
FINE ARTS OF THE ENGLISH SCHOOL.
them have lived in obscurity, and died in indigence. To account for this seeming
paradox, many reasons may be assigned ;----First, the vast difficulties of art render
its higher branches unattainable to nine-tenths of those persons who profess, or
pretend to study it : Second, Sir Joshua never having received a well-founded
education in the principles of painting, was forced to make his own way by the
efforts of genius, and unwearied industry : hence all those excellences which he
possessed could not be imparted, or taught to another, and what could be taught,
he did not sufficiently possess. It is art which the scholar is to learn, and not
genius. Sir Joshua seems to have disdained the rules of art, and generally
snatched a grace beyond them. In short we must conclude, that, whatever may
be the reason, he was not the master to produce good scholars. Yet, like his
predecessor, Kneller, he occasioned imitators, in myriads ; and this proneness to
imitation has not yet ceased to infest the country. The young painter, however,
who daubs because Sir Joshua daubed, is like the fool who purchased the lamp
of Epictetus. J. N.
To the preceding memoir, from the pen of Sir Joshua's pupil, and an artist of considerable eminence,
I am tempted to subjoin the following lines, by the amiable Goldsmith. They constitute a part of his
much-admired poem — Retaliation,—and are at once an honour to the head of the writer, and to the
character of the artist. Like the fascinating paintings of Sir Joshua, the writings of Goldsmith will
always please, and though often examined, will never seem dull, tame, or insipid.
" Here Reynolds is laid, and, to tell you my mind,
He has not left a wiser, or better behind :
His pencil was striking, resistless, and grand ;
His manners were gentle, complying, and bland ;
Still born to improve us in every part,
His pencil our faces, his manners our hearts :
To coxcombs averse, yet most civilly steering,
When they judg'd without skill he was still hard of hearing ;
When they talk'd of their Raffaelles, Corregios, and stuff,
He shifted his trumpet* and only took snuff."
* Sir Joshua, being rather deaf, used an ear-trumpet. A very fine portrait of himself, in the collection at Streatham, shows
a front view of his face with his open hand to his ear.
END OF THE MEMOIR.