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of Michael Angelo and Raphael, we must admit, as more than 

 probable, that the latter owes his grandeur and elevation 

 of thought to Michael Angelo, not by copying his works, but 

 excited by their contemplation, his mind caught the emulating 

 flame, and became more pure, chaste and refined; and if 

 Michael Angelo surpasses him in sublime conception and noble 

 daring, we must yield the palm of exquisite grace and beauty 

 to Raphael. 



I am now arrived at that part of my subject in which 

 our artists stand upon higher ground, and where they enter 

 the fair field of competition on something like a footing of 

 equality, and in some instances where they have the "vantage 

 ground." I regret that I am obliged to show you the styles 

 of the different masters from Prints instead of Pictures ; for, 

 beautiful as this department of art is, it must be evident that 

 it is defective in some of the essential qualities of painting; 

 and although it conveys the broad principle of the art, it is 

 wanting in that great and important requisite, colour. An 

 engraving must not be considered as an exact copy of a pic- 

 ture, but a translation, wanting the peculiar beauty of the 

 original, something like the English scholar, who reads Homer 

 or Virgil through the medium of a foreign language incapable 

 of displaying its greatest charms. Engraving is a distinct 

 language in art, and although it may bear a strong resem- 

 blance to painting in the construction of its grammar, as 

 grammars of language bear to each other, yet the alphabet 

 and mode of expression are totally distinct. We must look at 

 a statue not as a real figure, a picture not a literal copy of 

 nature, and a print not an exact copy of either. 



In landscape, familiar life, and animal painting, no country 

 in the world ever stood so high as England. The landscapes 

 of France are comparatively poor ; the Germans very poor — 

 meagre in thought, colour, and effect ; nature, in both coun- 

 tries, has been used to little purpose. The Germans are not 

 likely lo improve while (hey hold the opinion that all are wrong 



