DOI Page / Citation link:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.75271#0046
( 36 )
(he said) could not paint an impudent fellow, nor the other &
modest one.
That admirable family-picture* of the senators of Titian, which
the Duke of Somerset had, is finely invented: the eldest of the
three is apparently the principal figure, and has the aHion, and
manner of an old man; the two others are well placed, and in pro-
per attitudes: the boys are got upon the steps, with a dog amongst
them ; a rare amusement for them while the old gentlemen are at
their devotions, which is their business ! The girls are more orderly,
and attend in appearance to the affair in hand: the attitudes of
the figures in general are just, and delicate; the draperies, the sky,
every thing throughout the whole picture is well thought, and
concluded.
Some subjeds are in themselves so disadvantageous as to stand in
need of something to raise their character. Of this, I have a fine
example in a head of marble, which seems to have been done for a
monument, the face itself is something poor, and though never so
well followed, would not have pleased; the sculptor, therefore, has
raised the eye-brows, and opened the mouth a little, and by this
expedient has given a spirit, and a dignity to a subjed not consider-
able otherwise; besides that, probably the person was accustomed
to give himself some such air, and then this has this farther ad-
vantage, that it makes the resemblance more remarkable.
I need not go through the other branches os Painting; as land-
scapes, battles, fruit, &c. what has been already said is (mutatis
mutandis) applicable to any of these. Nor shall I concern myself
with them hereafter, when I treat of the other parts of Painting,
for the same reason.
Only I shall observe here, that there are an infinity of artifices to
hide defeats, or give advantages, which come under this head of
Invention ; as does all caprices, grotesque, and other ornaments,
masks,
* Now in the possession of the Duke of Northumberland.
(he said) could not paint an impudent fellow, nor the other &
modest one.
That admirable family-picture* of the senators of Titian, which
the Duke of Somerset had, is finely invented: the eldest of the
three is apparently the principal figure, and has the aHion, and
manner of an old man; the two others are well placed, and in pro-
per attitudes: the boys are got upon the steps, with a dog amongst
them ; a rare amusement for them while the old gentlemen are at
their devotions, which is their business ! The girls are more orderly,
and attend in appearance to the affair in hand: the attitudes of
the figures in general are just, and delicate; the draperies, the sky,
every thing throughout the whole picture is well thought, and
concluded.
Some subjeds are in themselves so disadvantageous as to stand in
need of something to raise their character. Of this, I have a fine
example in a head of marble, which seems to have been done for a
monument, the face itself is something poor, and though never so
well followed, would not have pleased; the sculptor, therefore, has
raised the eye-brows, and opened the mouth a little, and by this
expedient has given a spirit, and a dignity to a subjed not consider-
able otherwise; besides that, probably the person was accustomed
to give himself some such air, and then this has this farther ad-
vantage, that it makes the resemblance more remarkable.
I need not go through the other branches os Painting; as land-
scapes, battles, fruit, &c. what has been already said is (mutatis
mutandis) applicable to any of these. Nor shall I concern myself
with them hereafter, when I treat of the other parts of Painting,
for the same reason.
Only I shall observe here, that there are an infinity of artifices to
hide defeats, or give advantages, which come under this head of
Invention ; as does all caprices, grotesque, and other ornaments,
masks,
* Now in the possession of the Duke of Northumberland.