312, STUDIES OF NATURE. 



of a fea-fowl taking it's departure from a hillock, 

 with neck advancing, and legs thrown back- 

 ward J that of two white turdes fkimming fide by 

 fide, in the fliade, along the fkirts of a forefl: j the 

 balancing of a wagtail on the extremity of the fo- 

 liage of a rufli, bending under his weight. It 

 might be poffible even to reprefent the motion 

 and the weight of a loaded carriage toiling up a 

 hill, by expreffing the dufl of the crufhed pebbles 

 which rifes up behind it's wheels. Nay, I will go 

 fo far as to fay, that 1 think the efFefts of the fing- 

 jng of birds, and of the echos, might be rendered 

 perceptible, by the expreffion of certain charaders 

 which it is not neceflary here to unfold. 



So far are mod of our Painters, even among 

 thofe whofe talents are mofl confpicuous, from 

 paying attention to acceflbries fo agreeable, that 

 they omit them in fubjeds of which thofe accef- 

 fories form the principal charafter. For example, 

 if they reprefent a chariot at full fpeed, they take 

 pains to exhibit every fpoke of the wheels. The 

 horfes, indeed, are gallopping, but the chariot is 

 immoveable. The wheels of a carriage, however, 

 that is running with a rapid motion, prefent but 

 one fingle furface ; all their fpokes are confounded 

 to the eye. It was not thus that the Ancients, 

 our maflers in every branch of Art, imitated Na- 

 ture. P/iny^4c\h us, that Jpe/ks had fo exadly 



painted 



