DOI Page / Citation link:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.61012#0112
78
THE SIXTH DISCOURSE.
will go further; even genius, at least what generally is so
called, is the child of imitation. But as this appears to be
contrary to the general opinion, I must explain my position
before I enforce it.
Genius is supposed to be a power of producing excellencies
which are out of the reach of the rules of art ; a power
which no precepts can teach, and which no industry can
acquire.
This opinion of the impossibility of acquiring those
beauties, which stamp the work with the character of
genius, supposes that it is something more fixed than in
reality it is • and that we always do, and ever did agree in
opinion, with respect to what should be considered as the
characteristic of genius. But the truth is, that the degree
of excellence which proclaims Genius is different, in
different times and different places; and what shows it to
be so is, that mankind have often changed their opinion
upon this matter.
When the Arts were in their infancy the power of merely
drawing the likeness of any object was considered as one of
its greatest efforts. The common people, ignorant of the
principles of art, talk the same language even to this day.
But when it was found that every man could be taught to
do this, and a great deal more, merely by the observance of
certain precepts; the name of Genius then shifted its
application, and was given only to him who added the
peculiar character of the object he represented; to him
who had invention, expression, grace, or dignity; in short,
those qualities, or excellencies, the power of producing
which could not then be taught by any known and
promulgated rules.
We are very sure that the beauty of form, the expression
of the passions, the art of composition, even the power of
THE SIXTH DISCOURSE.
will go further; even genius, at least what generally is so
called, is the child of imitation. But as this appears to be
contrary to the general opinion, I must explain my position
before I enforce it.
Genius is supposed to be a power of producing excellencies
which are out of the reach of the rules of art ; a power
which no precepts can teach, and which no industry can
acquire.
This opinion of the impossibility of acquiring those
beauties, which stamp the work with the character of
genius, supposes that it is something more fixed than in
reality it is • and that we always do, and ever did agree in
opinion, with respect to what should be considered as the
characteristic of genius. But the truth is, that the degree
of excellence which proclaims Genius is different, in
different times and different places; and what shows it to
be so is, that mankind have often changed their opinion
upon this matter.
When the Arts were in their infancy the power of merely
drawing the likeness of any object was considered as one of
its greatest efforts. The common people, ignorant of the
principles of art, talk the same language even to this day.
But when it was found that every man could be taught to
do this, and a great deal more, merely by the observance of
certain precepts; the name of Genius then shifted its
application, and was given only to him who added the
peculiar character of the object he represented; to him
who had invention, expression, grace, or dignity; in short,
those qualities, or excellencies, the power of producing
which could not then be taught by any known and
promulgated rules.
We are very sure that the beauty of form, the expression
of the passions, the art of composition, even the power of