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Iir. Gn Pmniing. By Mr. E. Dayes, 'PainUr, 



Essay VIII. 



On Manner. 



Peculiar marks I hold to be generally, if not always, dcfefls ; however 

 dif5cu!t it may be wholly to cfcape them. .S/V Jq/hiia Reynolds. 



X HE word manner, rmy he applied to colour, light and 

 fliade, and penciling. It is expreffive of certain peculiar 

 marks that* invariahly charafterize the works of" each indi- 

 vidual, as in fonie a bluencfs in the colouring prevails, in 

 others a gray or vellow, while others are diftinguiflied by a 

 harflinefs in the fhadows; in one the penciling is round, in 

 another fquare or forked. So far is a new manner from being 

 a mark of genius, as fome aflert, that, could perfcclion in 

 painting ever be attained, it would be unaccompanied by any 

 peculiarity whatever. 



In thai part of our education which is to be obtained by 

 copying, we ought to be pajticularly careful that the works 

 we copy, or the inafter we imitate, have a manner the pureft 

 and the leaft vicious poffible ; for we may reft aflured, fingu- 

 larity, which in fome is glaringly abfurd, will be the firft 

 portion we fhall inherit. 



He who forms to himfelf a model in a mafter will be al- 

 ways inferior to the archetype : the heads of all the great 

 fchools have been fuperior to their imitators. Nature rifes 

 in the fame degree over the'fervile and bafe. M. Angelo 

 was fuperior to his difciples, and that in proportion to their 

 dependent habit of thinking. The fame caufe placed Ra- 

 phael, Titian, the Caracci, &c. at the head of certain clafles 

 of artifts, manv of whom have followed their inafters limp- 

 inirlv and awkwardly. The fame baneful defire of imitation 

 is equally detrimental to poets ; for the arts cannot be called 

 liberal in the hands of thofe who want fpirit to think for 

 themfelvcs. Not to acknowledge the favours we receive 

 would we illiberal, but to fink under them into a ftate of 

 flavery is bafe. The wifdom of the world may inform, but 

 we muft improve from ourfelves ; for precept will do but 

 little if the mind is not fufceptible of it ; the feed muft b^ 

 fuited to the foil. The mind, like a fine fpring of water, 

 will become more produftive and clear the more it is ufcd. 



Peculiarity is what chiefly charaftcrizes the difterent maf- 



tcrs. We fay, for inftance, the manner of Kaphael is drv 



9 iiud 



