DOI Page / Citation link:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.52800#0123
LOMBARD SCHOOL.—domenichino. 103
and importance of the various schools being always
held in their own proper place; it is more fre-
quently the want of a sufficient knowledge of the
subject, which prompts the critic to attempt to
keep that excellence in the back ground, which
the voice of preceding ages has already established
for any particular work of art.
An able writer upon the subject of art has said,
“ Fashion changes, but the fine arts are in their
principles fixed, and immutable: what these pro-
duce,” to make use of his own expression, “ brave
les annees, triomphe des siecles, et marche a 1’ im-
mortality.”
A very fine picture by Augostino Caracce, the
Baptism of our Saviour in Jordan, was some years
ago imported into this country by the late Arthur
Champernown, Esq. and sold by him as a fine
work of that master. Domenichino happened to
be the fashion of the day, for the St. John by Do-
menichino had been recently imported, and sold
to Mr. Hart Davis, at a large price; and from a
strong similarity which existed in the picture by
Augostino to the compositions of Domenichino,
it was soon afterwards resold as a work of the
latter, although always known at Rome to have
been a celebrated picture by Augostino: thus
robbing the true master of his just honours, with-
out any good cause; and but to humour the caprice
of the day.
and importance of the various schools being always
held in their own proper place; it is more fre-
quently the want of a sufficient knowledge of the
subject, which prompts the critic to attempt to
keep that excellence in the back ground, which
the voice of preceding ages has already established
for any particular work of art.
An able writer upon the subject of art has said,
“ Fashion changes, but the fine arts are in their
principles fixed, and immutable: what these pro-
duce,” to make use of his own expression, “ brave
les annees, triomphe des siecles, et marche a 1’ im-
mortality.”
A very fine picture by Augostino Caracce, the
Baptism of our Saviour in Jordan, was some years
ago imported into this country by the late Arthur
Champernown, Esq. and sold by him as a fine
work of that master. Domenichino happened to
be the fashion of the day, for the St. John by Do-
menichino had been recently imported, and sold
to Mr. Hart Davis, at a large price; and from a
strong similarity which existed in the picture by
Augostino to the compositions of Domenichino,
it was soon afterwards resold as a work of the
latter, although always known at Rome to have
been a celebrated picture by Augostino: thus
robbing the true master of his just honours, with-
out any good cause; and but to humour the caprice
of the day.