Richardson, Jonathan; Egerton, Thomas [Oth.]; Egerton, John [Oth.]; Debrett, John [Oth.]; Faulder, Robert [Oth.]; Miller, W. [Oth.]; Cuthell, J. [Oth.]; Barker, James [Oth.]; Jeffery, Edward [Oth.]: The Works Of Jonathan Richardson: Containing I. The Theory Of Painting. II. Essay On The Art Of Criticism, (So far as it relates to Painting). III. The Science Of A Connoisseur : The Whole intended as a Supplement to the Anecdotes of Painters and Engravers ([London]: Sold by T. and J. Egerton; J. Debrett; R. Faulder, and W. Miller; J. Cuthell; J. Barker; and E. Jeffrey, 1792)

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from the cross, is by no means justifiable. He has succeeded much
better in that article, if a drawing I have which is imputed to him is
really of him (it was once in the collection of Georgio Vasari, as
appears by its border, which is of his hand;) there the expressions
of sorrow are very noble, uncommon, and extraordinary. But even
Rafaelle himself could not have expressed this accident with more
dignity and more affecting than Battista Franco, and Polydore have
done in drawings I have of them: if at least that last is of the
hand to whom it is ascribed, and not Rasaelle, or some other not in-
ferior to him in this inslance.
Polydore, in a drawing of the same subjed (which I also have)
has finely expressed the excessive grief of the Virgin, by intimating
it was otherwise inexpressible: her attendants discover abundance of
passion, and sorrow in their faces, but hers is hid by drapery held up
by both her hands: the whole figure is very composed, and quiet;
no noise, no outrage, but great dignity appears in her suitable to
her character. This thought Timanthes had in his famous picture of
Iphigenia, which he probably took from Euripides; as perhaps Po-
lydore might from one, or both of them.
Putting the fore-finger in the mouth to express an agony, and con-
fusion of mind is rarely used. I do not remember to have seen it
any where but in the tomb of the Nasonii, where the Sphynx is pro-
poling the riddle to CEdipus; and in a drawing I have of Giulio
Romano, who could not have taken the thought from the other,
that not being discovered in his time; but in both these this expres-
sion is incomparably fine.
In that admirable carton of St. Paul preaching, the expressions are
very just, and delicate throughout: even the back ground is not
without its meaning: it is expressive of the superstition St. Paul was
preaching against. But no historian, or orator can ] ossibly give me
so great an idea of that eloquent, and zealous apostle as that figure
of his does; all the fine things related as said, or wrote by him can-
not;