DOI Seite / Zitierlink:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.73712#0291
RAPHAEL MENGS.
199
PART THE FIFTH.
CH A P. I.
OF THE TASTE OF THE ANCIENTS.
ITISTORIANS relate many things of the in-
11 vention of the art of designing, but exa-
mining it well, all is such confusion that it ap-
pears as if they knew nothing of the matter. I be-
believe it is impossible to know the true origin of
the arts,because perhaps they have been invented
at different times, and places, as has happened
with printing, which invention is claimed by some
cities of Europe, at the same time the Chinese
pretend to have known it many ages before. It
might have happened, that designing was in-
vented at the same time in Greece, Egypt, and
in Tuscany, or that some of these people had
taken it from others ; but there is no necessity
for seeking this out, nor would the knowledge
of it be of any considerable utility. For that
reason I do not enter into this dispute, leaving
VOL. I. Nn
199
PART THE FIFTH.
CH A P. I.
OF THE TASTE OF THE ANCIENTS.
ITISTORIANS relate many things of the in-
11 vention of the art of designing, but exa-
mining it well, all is such confusion that it ap-
pears as if they knew nothing of the matter. I be-
believe it is impossible to know the true origin of
the arts,because perhaps they have been invented
at different times, and places, as has happened
with printing, which invention is claimed by some
cities of Europe, at the same time the Chinese
pretend to have known it many ages before. It
might have happened, that designing was in-
vented at the same time in Greece, Egypt, and
in Tuscany, or that some of these people had
taken it from others ; but there is no necessity
for seeking this out, nor would the knowledge
of it be of any considerable utility. For that
reason I do not enter into this dispute, leaving
VOL. I. Nn