Of the STUDY of
GEOMETRICAL FIGURES;
THOUGH this part of the Work will undoubtedly be cenfured by thofe who are contented
with a fuperficial knowledge of the Art of Defigning, yet the end propofed will be fuffici-
ciently anfwered if it meets with the approbation of the few; let thofe who deride admo-
nition, and chufe to wanton upon the furface of the dream, float gently down it, and divert therri-
felves with the fticks and weeds with which they will be infenfibly and inevitably entangled.
ct Errors like ftraws upon the furface flow,
<£ Thofe who would fearch for Pearls irtuft dive below."
However, it is not expected, nor is it indeed necefTary, that a perfect Defigner mould be a perfect
Geometrician ; but it is certainly expected that he fhould be acquainted with the form and con-
flruction of the raoft Ample Geometrical Figures, which are in fact the bafis of the art he would
ftudy : to thofe therefore who would attain to a mafterly manner of Deflgning, it is recommended to
ftudy carefully the Figures defcribed in PLATE I. ; to make them familiar, and to endeavour to
imitate their forms rather by the hand, guided by Judgment, than the Rule and Compafs, for as
Fresnoy judicioully obferves, The Compafs fhould rather be in the Painter s eyesy than his hands.
But as the true contraction of thefe Figures is eafily attained, it will probably argue either felf-fuf-
fkiency or indolence not to be acquainted with it.
Explanation of the GEOMETRICAL FIGURES in the Firft Plate.
F I G U R E I.
To Bisect (or cut in two equal parts) a given Line.
Set one point of the CompafTes in A^ and opening them fomething more than half the length of
the Line, defcribe a femicircle, and from the point B do the fame, and draw a line through their
interfections.
FIGURE II.
To divide a given Circle into four equal Parts.
Draw a line through the Center £?, and proceed as in F I G. I.
FIGURE HI.
From a given Point C, in a right Line, to erect a Perpendicular.
Set one point of the CompafTes in C, and opening them at pleafure, fet off the diftances A B, and
proceed as in F 1 G. I.
Vol. L B FIGURE
GEOMETRICAL FIGURES;
THOUGH this part of the Work will undoubtedly be cenfured by thofe who are contented
with a fuperficial knowledge of the Art of Defigning, yet the end propofed will be fuffici-
ciently anfwered if it meets with the approbation of the few; let thofe who deride admo-
nition, and chufe to wanton upon the furface of the dream, float gently down it, and divert therri-
felves with the fticks and weeds with which they will be infenfibly and inevitably entangled.
ct Errors like ftraws upon the furface flow,
<£ Thofe who would fearch for Pearls irtuft dive below."
However, it is not expected, nor is it indeed necefTary, that a perfect Defigner mould be a perfect
Geometrician ; but it is certainly expected that he fhould be acquainted with the form and con-
flruction of the raoft Ample Geometrical Figures, which are in fact the bafis of the art he would
ftudy : to thofe therefore who would attain to a mafterly manner of Deflgning, it is recommended to
ftudy carefully the Figures defcribed in PLATE I. ; to make them familiar, and to endeavour to
imitate their forms rather by the hand, guided by Judgment, than the Rule and Compafs, for as
Fresnoy judicioully obferves, The Compafs fhould rather be in the Painter s eyesy than his hands.
But as the true contraction of thefe Figures is eafily attained, it will probably argue either felf-fuf-
fkiency or indolence not to be acquainted with it.
Explanation of the GEOMETRICAL FIGURES in the Firft Plate.
F I G U R E I.
To Bisect (or cut in two equal parts) a given Line.
Set one point of the CompafTes in A^ and opening them fomething more than half the length of
the Line, defcribe a femicircle, and from the point B do the fame, and draw a line through their
interfections.
FIGURE II.
To divide a given Circle into four equal Parts.
Draw a line through the Center £?, and proceed as in F I G. I.
FIGURE HI.
From a given Point C, in a right Line, to erect a Perpendicular.
Set one point of the CompafTes in C, and opening them at pleafure, fet off the diftances A B, and
proceed as in F 1 G. I.
Vol. L B FIGURE