DOI Page / Citation link:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.20658#0122
108
GENIUS AND TASTE.
It seemed necessary to say thus much upon the subject of genius and taste, to free the student
from those dreadful apprehensions which are apt to present themselves to his mind, at his first
outset in this art; particularly, as he will often meet with artists and connoisseurs, of established
fame, who magnify these two words, with all their aggravated difficulties, into such gigantic
beings, that a student must possess more than ordinary intrepidity to attempt the bounds of the art.
On a nearer approach he will, however, find that these dreadful guardians of the art are mere
phantoms. A view of nature, in her various forms, under the guidance of the preceding rules,
joined to an admiration of the subject, and unwearied assiduity, will enable him to perform won-
ders. He will make considerable advances, without perceiving his progress, until accomplished.
He must not suffer an idle disposition, or a discouraging sentence from any one who is not an
artist, nor from an artist himself, except he be a liberal minded man and free from envy, to check
him in his pursuits. Obstacles, at first sight insurmountable, will vanish as he approaches: and
the greatest encouragement he can meet with, even in the earlier stages of his progress, will be
that which he will receive, upon comparing hislast and most finished attempt with the first he ever
made. Again, among the various branches of the art, each part has its proficients: some excel
in portrait painting ; some in landscape ; others in history ; and some arrive at perfection in deli-
neating flowers, fruit, and other parts of still life, who never succeed in animated nature; while
others again are famous for this, and deficient in others: but few or none, who possess their
rational powers, are wholly excluded fronrthe art.
" These useful rules from time and chance to save,
In Latin strains, the studious Fresnoy gave :
On Tiber's peaceful banks the poet lay,
What time the pride of Bourbon urg'd his way,
Through hostile camps, and crimson fields of slain.
To vindicate his race and vanquish Spain;
High on the Alps he took his Avarrior stand;
And thence, in ardent volley from his hand
His thunder darted (so the flatterer sings
In strai?is best suited to the ear of kings)
And like Alcides, with vindictive tread,
Crush'd the Hispanian lion's gasping head :
But mark the proteous-policy of state ;
Now while his courtly numbers I translate,
The foes are friends, in social league they dare
On Britain to " let slip the dogs of Avar."
Vain efforts all, which in disgrace shall end,
If Britain, truly to herself a friend,
Through all her realms bids civil discord cease,
And heals her empire's wounds by arts of peace.
Rouse then fair Freedom ! fan that holy flame
From whence thy sons their dearest blessing claim :
Still bid them feel that scorn of lawless sway
Which interest cannot bind, nor power dismay.
So shall the throne thou gav'st the Brunswick line,
Long by that race adorned, thy dread palladium shine."
PAINTING
GENIUS AND TASTE.
It seemed necessary to say thus much upon the subject of genius and taste, to free the student
from those dreadful apprehensions which are apt to present themselves to his mind, at his first
outset in this art; particularly, as he will often meet with artists and connoisseurs, of established
fame, who magnify these two words, with all their aggravated difficulties, into such gigantic
beings, that a student must possess more than ordinary intrepidity to attempt the bounds of the art.
On a nearer approach he will, however, find that these dreadful guardians of the art are mere
phantoms. A view of nature, in her various forms, under the guidance of the preceding rules,
joined to an admiration of the subject, and unwearied assiduity, will enable him to perform won-
ders. He will make considerable advances, without perceiving his progress, until accomplished.
He must not suffer an idle disposition, or a discouraging sentence from any one who is not an
artist, nor from an artist himself, except he be a liberal minded man and free from envy, to check
him in his pursuits. Obstacles, at first sight insurmountable, will vanish as he approaches: and
the greatest encouragement he can meet with, even in the earlier stages of his progress, will be
that which he will receive, upon comparing hislast and most finished attempt with the first he ever
made. Again, among the various branches of the art, each part has its proficients: some excel
in portrait painting ; some in landscape ; others in history ; and some arrive at perfection in deli-
neating flowers, fruit, and other parts of still life, who never succeed in animated nature; while
others again are famous for this, and deficient in others: but few or none, who possess their
rational powers, are wholly excluded fronrthe art.
" These useful rules from time and chance to save,
In Latin strains, the studious Fresnoy gave :
On Tiber's peaceful banks the poet lay,
What time the pride of Bourbon urg'd his way,
Through hostile camps, and crimson fields of slain.
To vindicate his race and vanquish Spain;
High on the Alps he took his Avarrior stand;
And thence, in ardent volley from his hand
His thunder darted (so the flatterer sings
In strai?is best suited to the ear of kings)
And like Alcides, with vindictive tread,
Crush'd the Hispanian lion's gasping head :
But mark the proteous-policy of state ;
Now while his courtly numbers I translate,
The foes are friends, in social league they dare
On Britain to " let slip the dogs of Avar."
Vain efforts all, which in disgrace shall end,
If Britain, truly to herself a friend,
Through all her realms bids civil discord cease,
And heals her empire's wounds by arts of peace.
Rouse then fair Freedom ! fan that holy flame
From whence thy sons their dearest blessing claim :
Still bid them feel that scorn of lawless sway
Which interest cannot bind, nor power dismay.
So shall the throne thou gav'st the Brunswick line,
Long by that race adorned, thy dread palladium shine."
PAINTING