DOI Page / Citation link:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.30788#0280
t 256 ]
The moft enlightened judge, both of hls
own art, and of all that relates to it, is a
painter of a liberal and comprehenfive
mind,
der what degree of weight is due to that opinion. I am
very ready to acknowledge, that the fentiments of poets
with refpedt to the general beauties of nature, ought
always to have great weight j for poetical and pi&urefque
ideas are very congenial: but where a poet means to
celebrate the talents of a particular perfon, the cafe is
very different; as he is apt, from a very natural enthu-
fiafm, to beftow upon him his own ideas of excellence,
and freedom from defedfs, without weighing too minutely
whether he is entitled to fuch unreferved praife. And be~
fides, poetry for the moft part deals in ftrong general
praife, or cenfure, and does not often ftop to difcriminate.
I have great refpe£t for Dr. Warton’s charadter, both
as a man, and as a poet, and I am forry that the defence
of my own judgment, fhould oblige me in any way to
queftion the accuracy of his ; but as I hold that, without
a knowledge of the principles of painting, and an ac-.
quaintance with the works of the higher artifts, it is dif-
ficult to acquire any juft ideas of the effedfs and combina-
tions in natural fcenery, I am led to doubt of Dr.
Warton’s judgment in thefe points, from the lines that
immediately fcllow thofe which have been quoted.
Creatiye
The moft enlightened judge, both of hls
own art, and of all that relates to it, is a
painter of a liberal and comprehenfive
mind,
der what degree of weight is due to that opinion. I am
very ready to acknowledge, that the fentiments of poets
with refpedt to the general beauties of nature, ought
always to have great weight j for poetical and pi&urefque
ideas are very congenial: but where a poet means to
celebrate the talents of a particular perfon, the cafe is
very different; as he is apt, from a very natural enthu-
fiafm, to beftow upon him his own ideas of excellence,
and freedom from defedfs, without weighing too minutely
whether he is entitled to fuch unreferved praife. And be~
fides, poetry for the moft part deals in ftrong general
praife, or cenfure, and does not often ftop to difcriminate.
I have great refpe£t for Dr. Warton’s charadter, both
as a man, and as a poet, and I am forry that the defence
of my own judgment, fhould oblige me in any way to
queftion the accuracy of his ; but as I hold that, without
a knowledge of the principles of painting, and an ac-.
quaintance with the works of the higher artifts, it is dif-
ficult to acquire any juft ideas of the effedfs and combina-
tions in natural fcenery, I am led to doubt of Dr.
Warton’s judgment in thefe points, from the lines that
immediately fcllow thofe which have been quoted.
Creatiye