DOI Seite / Zitierlink:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.75271#0016
te^w. ^to^^^Wr ^-
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person, and has a graceful action, is to a deaf man, but what such
a one is to an understanding audience.
And thus Painting not only shews us how things appear, but tells
us what they are. We are informed of countries, habits, man-
ners, arms, buildings civil and military, animals, plants, minerals,
their natures and properties; and in fine, of all kinds of bodies
whatsoever.
This art is moreover subservient to many other useful sciences;
it gives the architect his models; to physicians and surgeons, the
texture and forms of all the parts of human bodies, and of all the
phoenomena of nature. All mechanics stand in need of it. But it is
not necessary to enlarge here the many explanatory prints in books,
and without which, those books would in a great measure be unin-
telligible, sufficiently shew the usefulness of this art to mankind.
I pretend not to go regularly through all particulars, or here, or
elsewhere, throughout this whole undertaking, to say all that is to
be said on the subjefil ; I write as the scraps of time I can allow
myself to employ this way will permit me; and I write for my own
diversion, and my son's improvement (who well deserves all the
assistance I can give, though he needs it as little as most young
men; to whom I must do this further justice, as to own that I am
beholden to him, in my turn, for some considerable hints in this un-
dertaking.) And if, moreover, what I write may hereafter happen
to be of use to any body else ; whether it be to put a lover of art
in a method to judge of a picture (and which in most things a gen-
tleman may do altogether as well as a painter) or to awaken some
useful hints in some of my own profession; at least to persuade such
to do no dishonour to it by a low or vicious behaviour; if these
consequences happen, it will be a satisfa&ion to me over and above.
But to return, and to come to what is most material.
Painting gives us not only the persons, but the characters of great
men. The air of the head, and the mein in general, gives strong
indications
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person, and has a graceful action, is to a deaf man, but what such
a one is to an understanding audience.
And thus Painting not only shews us how things appear, but tells
us what they are. We are informed of countries, habits, man-
ners, arms, buildings civil and military, animals, plants, minerals,
their natures and properties; and in fine, of all kinds of bodies
whatsoever.
This art is moreover subservient to many other useful sciences;
it gives the architect his models; to physicians and surgeons, the
texture and forms of all the parts of human bodies, and of all the
phoenomena of nature. All mechanics stand in need of it. But it is
not necessary to enlarge here the many explanatory prints in books,
and without which, those books would in a great measure be unin-
telligible, sufficiently shew the usefulness of this art to mankind.
I pretend not to go regularly through all particulars, or here, or
elsewhere, throughout this whole undertaking, to say all that is to
be said on the subjefil ; I write as the scraps of time I can allow
myself to employ this way will permit me; and I write for my own
diversion, and my son's improvement (who well deserves all the
assistance I can give, though he needs it as little as most young
men; to whom I must do this further justice, as to own that I am
beholden to him, in my turn, for some considerable hints in this un-
dertaking.) And if, moreover, what I write may hereafter happen
to be of use to any body else ; whether it be to put a lover of art
in a method to judge of a picture (and which in most things a gen-
tleman may do altogether as well as a painter) or to awaken some
useful hints in some of my own profession; at least to persuade such
to do no dishonour to it by a low or vicious behaviour; if these
consequences happen, it will be a satisfa&ion to me over and above.
But to return, and to come to what is most material.
Painting gives us not only the persons, but the characters of great
men. The air of the head, and the mein in general, gives strong
indications