Art of Painting in France. iMi> 



represent the most characteristic traits of the entire maraier 

 in which the French think and feel." But the good and bad 

 actions which occupy the pencil of the celebrated Greiize 

 do not belong exclusively to the French nation ; they are 

 common to all nations. We find in all countries me^i 

 who have nothing to leave to their families at their death, 

 except their good reputation ; there are every where mothers 

 who love their children ; sick persons who are consoled by 

 their children : as well as there are children who endeavour 

 to destroy the will of their father when they think that it is 

 not favourable to them j and there are also children who even 

 attempt the lives of ihose who have given them birth. lie 

 grants more nobleness of style to Greuze than was pos- 

 sessed by Cornelius Troust, or Hogarth : I do not know 

 where he has derived this comparison. M. Fiorillo thinks 

 that Diderot has praised Grcuze with too much enthusiasm. 

 He thinks the colouring of Greuze is mannered : he has not 

 seen, therefore, any of his heads ; at least, he does not men- 

 lion them. Few artists have painted with so much senti- 

 ment and truth as he has done : in France he still passes for 

 a good colourist. The author says, " that Greuze endea- 

 voured never to lose sight of the simplicity of nature; hue 

 Nature herself is mannered at Paris." Nothing is easier 

 than to vilify a whole nation. Greuze made a quantity of 

 designs, which can only be regarded as mere studies, all 

 full of sentiment. Greuze created his own school, audit 

 perished with him. 



The Germans, Italians, and English, exclaim against the 

 French school, because tliey envy its superiority. The man 

 who has regarded Europe with an impartial eye for the last 

 ten years, surely cannot think that there is any school in 

 existence at present, except the French school : no country 

 possesses so great a number of historical painters, or so great 

 masters, as France does. Among other nations there are 

 distinguished talents: a Fuger, a V/est, an Abildgaard, ^nd 

 a Hetsch, will always do honour to their country; and yet 

 for all this there is not a German school, an English school, 

 cr a Danish school. 



It is necessary that I should quxv, some psspatjes of 



M. Fiunllo's 



