The Arts. 3,73 



is poffcrfed. More than 3000 pictures- are depoHted at Vcr- 

 faillcs, and 6 or 700 remain in the cabinets of Louvre, in ex- 

 pectation of a place proper to receive them. 



" The collection of thele chtfs d\ru-vre was doubtlefs an 

 advantage at thofe critical moments when the breath. oJ " Van- 

 dal ifm would have deftroyed, without remorfe, the works of 

 genius. 



" k was aH acquifition we were in want of, when our vic- 

 torious arms procured us the numerous riches of Italy. But 

 thefe times are no more ! and we Gfrtgftt now to endeavour to 

 conciliate the great advantages derivable from the arts, with 

 the duties we have to fulfil towards the departments ; fome 

 of which have enriched us with their fpoils, and all of which 

 have concurred' in appropriating to us the rich monuments 

 of vanquished nations. 



" Without doubt Paris ought to referve the chefs d'oeuvre- 

 of every kind. Paris ought to poffefs in its collection the 

 works which moft effentially belong, to the hiftory of the 

 arts, which mark its progrefs, characterize its qualities, and 

 enable the artift to read on its pictures all the revolutions; 

 and periods of painting. Paris merits on every account this 

 honourable diflinction : but the inhabitants of the depart- 

 ments have alfo a facred right to a fhare in the fruit of our 

 conquefls, and in the inheritance of the works of French, 

 artifts. 



"This consideration alone will doubtlefs not permit the 

 French government to hefitate with regard to the manner in 

 which it ought to a<St ; but this determination, which fprings 

 from a fentiment of juftice, (liould neverthelefs be fortified by 

 the idea, that it is conformable to the real intereft of the arts. 



" In fact, the contemplation of what is beautiful develop* 

 talent, and infpires the artilt better than leffons. The valu- 

 able, picture, which by being placed by the fide of one tlill 

 jnore fo is dHVegardedj will recover its right to admiration 

 when it (hall be iTolated, or, to ufe the expreflion, reftored to 

 itielf. Some paintings, bv being fent to the place that gav- 

 them birth, will acquire a new intere'il by traditjpo, and the 

 recital of the circunirlraices which attach to productions q£ 

 merit. The inhabitants of Anvers, Montpeliei, and An- 

 delys, will be fond to mow foreigners the r/v/.s -/'u . ■■ I 

 their countrymen Rubens, Bourdon, and Poufiin , and the 

 traveller will be liable to direct his fteps to any part of the 

 republic, which will not offer a rich collection of j icturcs, or 

 the work of fome men of genius thed lultre on 



their country. 



" However, the monuments of painting ninft not be dif* 

 fenunated at hazard among the different points of France. 



la 



