DOI Page / Citation link:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.73713#0058
54 THE WORKS OF
The memoirs of Correggio were written by Mengs at Florence,
to give it to those who made the collection of the lives of pain-
ters of all the schools, who, however, extracted only that poor
article of Correggio which one reads in their works.
His principal end, besides that of making known the merits of
the great Correggio better than it was before, was, to supply
what was deficient in the life written by Vasari, and to correct
his equivocations. 'Notwithstanding, many have believed that
Vasari did not write that life with all the instruction and impar-
tiality necessary. Mengs likewise believed it, but did not wish
to interfere too much in such questions, and contented himself
with his ordinary moderation to elucidate well the facts upon
which he established the reputation of Correggio, without enter-
ing into this dispute, nor cared for the opinion or sentiments of
those who make it a national cause to support Vasari.
The practical lessons on painting, at the end, have been ga-
thered from disserent parts, where they were spread without or-
der or method. Mengs dictated them at various times, in various
languages, and to various disciples, according as they occurred
in his instructions. Each wrote them according to his capacity ;
and for that reason, many of them are sound in such confusion,
that it is impossible to decifer them, and they have become for
that reason abandoned. Butby that I do notintend to say, that
these which are published, are sree from error ; quite the con-
trary. I know the disorder in which they are found ; the irregu-
larity ofthe style, the continued repetitions, the errors of lan-
guage and of construction, and his confused mode of explaining
himself. I make this remark in order to prevent the murmers
and censure of certain persons who to vent the rage which the es-
sential meritof the work will excite on their delicate self-love, run
after words and phrases. Let them therefore know, that I abandon
to them, all they may find here of this kind to exercise their cri-
ticism ; and I condemn as much as they would wish to condemn.
It is sufficient to say, thatthey leave mein the opinion, that their
heads are sull of empty words, andthat envy only torments those
who are possessed os it.
The memoirs of Correggio were written by Mengs at Florence,
to give it to those who made the collection of the lives of pain-
ters of all the schools, who, however, extracted only that poor
article of Correggio which one reads in their works.
His principal end, besides that of making known the merits of
the great Correggio better than it was before, was, to supply
what was deficient in the life written by Vasari, and to correct
his equivocations. 'Notwithstanding, many have believed that
Vasari did not write that life with all the instruction and impar-
tiality necessary. Mengs likewise believed it, but did not wish
to interfere too much in such questions, and contented himself
with his ordinary moderation to elucidate well the facts upon
which he established the reputation of Correggio, without enter-
ing into this dispute, nor cared for the opinion or sentiments of
those who make it a national cause to support Vasari.
The practical lessons on painting, at the end, have been ga-
thered from disserent parts, where they were spread without or-
der or method. Mengs dictated them at various times, in various
languages, and to various disciples, according as they occurred
in his instructions. Each wrote them according to his capacity ;
and for that reason, many of them are sound in such confusion,
that it is impossible to decifer them, and they have become for
that reason abandoned. Butby that I do notintend to say, that
these which are published, are sree from error ; quite the con-
trary. I know the disorder in which they are found ; the irregu-
larity ofthe style, the continued repetitions, the errors of lan-
guage and of construction, and his confused mode of explaining
himself. I make this remark in order to prevent the murmers
and censure of certain persons who to vent the rage which the es-
sential meritof the work will excite on their delicate self-love, run
after words and phrases. Let them therefore know, that I abandon
to them, all they may find here of this kind to exercise their cri-
ticism ; and I condemn as much as they would wish to condemn.
It is sufficient to say, thatthey leave mein the opinion, that their
heads are sull of empty words, andthat envy only torments those
who are possessed os it.