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OBSERVATIONS on the POWER of PAINTING to exprefs 

 MIXED PASSIONS. By the Rev. MICHAEL KEARNEY, 

 D. D. M. R. I. A. 



1 H E difcourfes of the late Prefident of the Royal Academy of Read No 

 Painting, &c, not only difplay a profound knowledge of profef- "^' '''^^ 

 fional theory, but alfo contain many general tranfcendental prin- 

 ciples of all the finer arts. The ftudent of poetry or eloquence 

 may derive from them almoft equal inftrudion with the painter. 

 It is therefore with the greateft hefitation I venture to examine 

 the juftnefs of a decifion made by fo philofophical an obferver 

 of human nature. 



In the difcourfe delivered December lo, 1772, he cautions the 

 young artift againft aiming at the union of contradidory excel- 

 lences, which muft ncceffarily be mutually exclufive of each 

 other. He then cenfures fome perfons who have been fond of 

 defcribing the expreffion of mixt pajfions, which they fancied to 

 exift in fome favourite work. Such exprefllon he pronounces to 



be 



