DOI Page / Citation link:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.75271#0047
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masks, &c. together with all uncommon and delicate thoughts:
such as the cherubims attending on God, when he appeared to
Moses in the burning bulli, which Rafaelle has painted with flames
about them inslead of wings ; an angel running, and holding up
both arms as just railing herself for flight, of which I have a draw-
ing of Parmeggiano, as well as many other examples of these kinds,
in drawings of Rafaelle, Michelangelo, Giulio, Leonardo da Vinci,
&c. They are to be found perpetually in the works of the great
matters, and add much to their beauty, and value.
The mention of grotesques, suggeds a rule to my mind which I
will insert: it is this, That all creatures of imagination ought to
have airs, and adions given them as whimsical and chimerical as
their forms are. I have a drawing of the school of the Caracches
of a male and female satyr sitting together: there is a great deal of
humour in it, so as to be a fine burlesque upon Corydon and Phillis.
The anatomy figures in Vesalius, said to be designed by Titian, arc
prettily fancied: there is a series of denuding a figure to the bone,
and they are all in attitudes, seeming to have most pain as the opera-
tion goes on, till at ladthey languish and die: but Michelangelo
has made anatomy figures, whose faces and adions are impossible
to be described, and the most delicate that can be imagined for the
purpose. Mr. Fontenelle, in his dialogue betwixt Homer and /Esop,
after Homer had said he intended no allegory, but to be taken
literally, makes the other demand how he could imagine mankind
would believe such ridiculous accounts of the gods; O (says he)
you need be in no pain about that; if you would give them truth,
you mud put that in a fabulous dress, but a lye enters freely into
the mind of man in its own proper shape. Why then, says ZEsop,
I am afraid they will believe the beads have spoken as I have made
them. Ah (says Homer) the case is altered, men will be content,
that the gods should be as great sools as themselves, but they will
never bear that the beads should be as wise. It would be well, if
F painters
masks, &c. together with all uncommon and delicate thoughts:
such as the cherubims attending on God, when he appeared to
Moses in the burning bulli, which Rafaelle has painted with flames
about them inslead of wings ; an angel running, and holding up
both arms as just railing herself for flight, of which I have a draw-
ing of Parmeggiano, as well as many other examples of these kinds,
in drawings of Rafaelle, Michelangelo, Giulio, Leonardo da Vinci,
&c. They are to be found perpetually in the works of the great
matters, and add much to their beauty, and value.
The mention of grotesques, suggeds a rule to my mind which I
will insert: it is this, That all creatures of imagination ought to
have airs, and adions given them as whimsical and chimerical as
their forms are. I have a drawing of the school of the Caracches
of a male and female satyr sitting together: there is a great deal of
humour in it, so as to be a fine burlesque upon Corydon and Phillis.
The anatomy figures in Vesalius, said to be designed by Titian, arc
prettily fancied: there is a series of denuding a figure to the bone,
and they are all in attitudes, seeming to have most pain as the opera-
tion goes on, till at ladthey languish and die: but Michelangelo
has made anatomy figures, whose faces and adions are impossible
to be described, and the most delicate that can be imagined for the
purpose. Mr. Fontenelle, in his dialogue betwixt Homer and /Esop,
after Homer had said he intended no allegory, but to be taken
literally, makes the other demand how he could imagine mankind
would believe such ridiculous accounts of the gods; O (says he)
you need be in no pain about that; if you would give them truth,
you mud put that in a fabulous dress, but a lye enters freely into
the mind of man in its own proper shape. Why then, says ZEsop,
I am afraid they will believe the beads have spoken as I have made
them. Ah (says Homer) the case is altered, men will be content,
that the gods should be as great sools as themselves, but they will
never bear that the beads should be as wise. It would be well, if
F painters