among the Ancient St 55^9 



ing it, that for the charms of invention and 

 elegance of allegory it exceeds the moft lively 

 produ6tions of Albani. 



Other inftances might perhaps be collected in 

 fupport of the pretenfions of the ancient painters 

 to invention, were it neceflary to do fo. But it 

 will be fufficient perhaps to obferve, in addition 

 to what has already been urged on this fubjedt, 

 that as invention is rather a natural endowment 

 than an acquired talent, and as the ancients 

 univerfally feem at lead equal to the moderns 

 in the gifts of genius and good fenfe, we cannot 

 but admit, on their part, an equality with our- 

 felves, fo far as invention is concerned. 



Very nearly connefted with the fubjedt of 

 invention is that of coutume : by which I mean 

 an attention to probability (with refpeft to times, 

 places, objedls, perfons, and circumltances) in 

 the tranfadtion reprefented. 



The ancient paintjngs'now remaining, indeed, 

 fo far from exhibiting any proofs of attention to 

 this important branch of the art, are full of grofs 

 violations of probability, and reprefentations 

 of impoffible connexion. But I lay very little 

 ftrefs on thefe inftances ; firft, becaufe they are 

 fo evidently the performances of artifts of no 

 repute, and in the very decline of tafte and 

 good fenfe : fecondly, becaufe none of them, to 

 which this objedlion can be made, are regular 

 reprefentations of any pcrfon or tranfa(^ion, but 



merely 



