DOI Seite / Zitierlink:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.75271#0030
( 20 )
wrote on it have not done. As to those properties in a picture so
much spoken of, such as force, spirit, the understanding of the
Clairobscure, or whatever other there may be, they will be taken
notice of hereafter, as being reducible to one or more of these
principal heads.
The art in its whole extent being too great to be compassed by
any one man in any tolerable degree of perfection, some have ap-
plied themselves to paint one thing, and some another: thus there
are painters of faces, history, landscapes, battles, drolls, still-life,
flowers, and fruit, ships, &c. but every one of these several kinds
of pictures ought to have all the several parts, or qualities, just now
mentioned; though even to arrive at that, in any one kind of Paint-
ing, is beyond the reach of any man. Even in drolls, there is a
difference; there is a grace and greatness proper to them, which
some have more than others. The history-painter is obliged often-
times to paint all these kind of subjeds, and the face-painter mod
of them; but besides that, they in such cases are allowed the
assistance of other hands, the inferior subje&s are in comparison of
their figures as the figures in a landscape, there is no great exaCtness
required, or pretended to.
Italy has unquestionably produced the best modern Painting,
especially of the best kinds, and possessed it in a manner alone,
when no other nation in the world had it in any tolerable degree;
that was then consequently the great school of Painting. About a
hundred years ago there were a great many excellent painters in
Flanders; but when Van-Dyck came hither he brought face-painting
to us; ever since which time, that is for above fourscore years,
England has excelled all the world in that great branch of the art,
and being well stored with the works of the greatest masters, whether
paintings or drawings, here being, moreover, the fined living models,
as well as the greatest encouragement. This may justly be estemed
As a complete, and the best school for face-painting now in the
world ;
wrote on it have not done. As to those properties in a picture so
much spoken of, such as force, spirit, the understanding of the
Clairobscure, or whatever other there may be, they will be taken
notice of hereafter, as being reducible to one or more of these
principal heads.
The art in its whole extent being too great to be compassed by
any one man in any tolerable degree of perfection, some have ap-
plied themselves to paint one thing, and some another: thus there
are painters of faces, history, landscapes, battles, drolls, still-life,
flowers, and fruit, ships, &c. but every one of these several kinds
of pictures ought to have all the several parts, or qualities, just now
mentioned; though even to arrive at that, in any one kind of Paint-
ing, is beyond the reach of any man. Even in drolls, there is a
difference; there is a grace and greatness proper to them, which
some have more than others. The history-painter is obliged often-
times to paint all these kind of subjeds, and the face-painter mod
of them; but besides that, they in such cases are allowed the
assistance of other hands, the inferior subje&s are in comparison of
their figures as the figures in a landscape, there is no great exaCtness
required, or pretended to.
Italy has unquestionably produced the best modern Painting,
especially of the best kinds, and possessed it in a manner alone,
when no other nation in the world had it in any tolerable degree;
that was then consequently the great school of Painting. About a
hundred years ago there were a great many excellent painters in
Flanders; but when Van-Dyck came hither he brought face-painting
to us; ever since which time, that is for above fourscore years,
England has excelled all the world in that great branch of the art,
and being well stored with the works of the greatest masters, whether
paintings or drawings, here being, moreover, the fined living models,
as well as the greatest encouragement. This may justly be estemed
As a complete, and the best school for face-painting now in the
world ;