DOI Page / Citation link:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.73713#0136
131 THE WOKKS OF
os their masters, it was impossible that the
arts could advance with ardour, or exceed the
perfection of Leonardo da Vinci, and Peter Pe-
rugino, the first having already principals of
grandeur, and the second a certain grace and
eafy simplicity.
in that date of things, it received a ray of
the same light which illuminated it in ancient
Greece, when Michael Angelo, who with his
great talent, had already furpassed Ghirlandajo,
saw the works of ancient Greece in the collec-
tion of the magnificent Lorenzo de' Medici.
He attempted to imitate them in sculpture; and
animated by emulation towards Leonard by the
works which between both they had made in
the hall of the old Palace at Florence, he gave a
new aspect to painting.
Consider my friend, how many were the op-
portunities to revive their talents, when the go-
vernment gave them a noble ambition, and em-
ployed them in great works. What sublime ge-
nius's ai;e unknown, from not being difcovered
in time ! But in that age, in which the greater
felicity of the Florentine Republic was confined
the loss of its liberty, and the great temporal
Roman power, with the princes of its decay,
all the powers of Europe found themselves in
sermentation, and the ideas even of the lowest
persons were great. In that time therefore,
it happened that the greatest talents were em-
ployed in most extensive works,- which
served much to improve the arts. Michael
Angelo was chosen to make a statue in marble,
os their masters, it was impossible that the
arts could advance with ardour, or exceed the
perfection of Leonardo da Vinci, and Peter Pe-
rugino, the first having already principals of
grandeur, and the second a certain grace and
eafy simplicity.
in that date of things, it received a ray of
the same light which illuminated it in ancient
Greece, when Michael Angelo, who with his
great talent, had already furpassed Ghirlandajo,
saw the works of ancient Greece in the collec-
tion of the magnificent Lorenzo de' Medici.
He attempted to imitate them in sculpture; and
animated by emulation towards Leonard by the
works which between both they had made in
the hall of the old Palace at Florence, he gave a
new aspect to painting.
Consider my friend, how many were the op-
portunities to revive their talents, when the go-
vernment gave them a noble ambition, and em-
ployed them in great works. What sublime ge-
nius's ai;e unknown, from not being difcovered
in time ! But in that age, in which the greater
felicity of the Florentine Republic was confined
the loss of its liberty, and the great temporal
Roman power, with the princes of its decay,
all the powers of Europe found themselves in
sermentation, and the ideas even of the lowest
persons were great. In that time therefore,
it happened that the greatest talents were em-
ployed in most extensive works,- which
served much to improve the arts. Michael
Angelo was chosen to make a statue in marble,