Mr Wilson on the State of the Arts in I tali/. 91 



sidered one of such a series. I went abroad at a very early 

 age, and my time was entirely given up to the study of the art 

 to which I had devoted myself, and which every thing around 

 me tended to increase my love of. The collateral studies of 

 the youthful artist are naturally those connected with his art, 

 and are greatly more extensive in Italy, from many favour- 

 able circumstances, than in Scotland, and the brief allusion 

 which I have made to them and to the time of life when I 

 lived abroad, is meant as an apology for the meagreness of the 

 details which I humbly bring under your notice. 



Any comment on the political condition of Italy would be 

 out of place in a paper to be read here, although a distinct 

 apprehension of it would be necessary previously to any in- 

 quiry into the state of her arts and sciences, and also to enable 

 us justly to appreciate the great merits of those Italian philo- 

 sophers and literati, who, despite of adverse circumstances, so 

 greatly distinguish themselves. To so slight a sketch of the 

 arts of Italy as that I am about to offer, any lengthened ob- 

 servations are not so necessary. Whatever may be our opi- 

 nion of Austrian principles of government, and of Austrian 

 influence in Italy, all who have visited the Italian territories 

 of that power, must, I think, acknowledge that Lombardy is 

 greatly in advance of the independent states, and in no part 

 of Europe, Scotland excepted, are there more numerous schools 

 for the instruction of all classes of the people. As the tra- 

 veller advances southward, with nominal independence politi- 

 cal degradation increases, and the general character of the 

 people is lowered. We can feel no other emotions than those 

 of regret for the prostration of Italy ; but if we examine into 

 the customs of the Italians, we shall everywhere find expres- 

 sive indications of ancient power and refinement, and pleasing 

 proof that, where civilization and its attendant sciences and 

 aits lias once held extensive sway, advantages are secured of 

 which it is almost impossible, or at any rate very difficult, to 

 deprive a people. 



I shall commence with a brief notice of the art of painting 

 in Italy: this line art lias gradually declined, and there seems 

 1<> lie no indication at present of its recovery. It is trammelled 

 by academic system. The Roman school is distinguished by 



