Ok Paintings 'i'ij 



be required : and perhaps their merchants would not he in- 

 clined to ritk much on articles the buyers of which would be 

 the wealthy, and often the ignorant. What might be requi- 

 fite for the purpofe of ornament would be more likely to be 

 Ihowy than juR. 



The Romans appear to have encouraged the arts as a means 

 of adding to their pride, and of feeding their vanity. As a 

 people, they are rather to be viewed at a diilance ; their cha- 

 raiSler is too feltirti and oppreilive to invite to an intimac7. 

 The beft works produced among the Romans from Augullus 

 to Trajan are juftly held to be of Grecian \vorknian(hip. 



It is alwavs more eafv to imitate the llyle than the reafon- 

 ings and fcience of the original : hence thofe who fucceeded 

 the early Greeks failed bv degrees in the moft eflenlial parts; 

 which may account for that fort of mechanical harOmcfs, and 

 often want of eleirancc, obfervable in fome of tlie works called 

 Roman. 



We have no riaht to look for true taRe among a people 

 who could drag their captives at their chariot wheels, or 

 ilaughter them in theatres. They appear to have preferred 

 pomp and fiiow, " barbaric pearl and gold," to true tade; 

 and exhibit a pifture of gaudy and well-difciplined barbari- 

 ans. A nation which places the firft reputation on arms or 

 war, will never have a higher eltetin for the peaceable pro- 

 feflbr of defitrn than a Spartan or Roman. Many of their 

 molt renowned works are recommended more to notice on 

 account of their richncfs than beauty, as Nero's golden pa- 

 lacr.s, &c. Pomp and luxury was their object; and they fell 

 into the common error of ignorance, that of augmenting the 

 matter inftead of improving tlje form *'. 



Amoncr the moderns, every country that has formed a 

 fchool appears to have had a caufe for its ftyle in its national 

 chara6ler. The gravity of the Florentines and Romans might 

 require that juftnefs and truth of form which they faw in the 

 antique ftatucs. The Venetians, a wealthy and gay people, 

 would delight in magnificence froin their commerce with the 

 Kail; and painting [or the rich and luxurious would necef- 

 farily introduce fpkudour and brilliancy of colour, with pro- 

 ceflions, fealis, Sec. 'J'he Flemilh and Dutch were content 

 with fuperticial or general repvcfentations of things. Of the 

 French, the bed mailers have fought perfci'-fion in the Roman 

 fchool ; while others, complying with the national love for 

 f|)lendour, have fought perfection by bullle and fliow. Of 

 cur own nation, the love of locality and portraiture may be 



* Tn point of ordci-, the I'hoenicians (hniiM i>icci.(lc the Grecians; but 

 I have iiaid no attcunou to clironolntncal arrangement, 



1 3 faiJ 



