3^ On Painting. 



Hence invention is juftly ranked as the flrft and mofl: noble 

 part of the art ; by it we diltinguifh the philofopher from the 

 mere painter, for he whofe powers are confined to imitation 

 deferves no better name. 



Invention not only relates to the> way in which the artift 

 tells tlie itory, but, in a his/her fenfe, requires the aid of 

 fuch probable incidents as mav contribute to its further illuf- 

 tration. Raphael, in his Paul at Lyitra, has fini.ly con- 

 trived to fliow the miracle wrought, by making one of the 

 fpeftators, full of wonder and altonifliment, lifting up the 

 drapery to examine the limbs that have acquired their proper 

 Hiape. N. I'quilin, to convey an idea of the fize of Poly* 

 pheinus, has placed him on the diftant mountains, and, by 

 interpofing a great medium of air, has feparaled him from 

 the figures of the lunic fize on the fore-ground, and thereby 

 produced a gigantic effeft that beggars all defcription. Barr)', 

 in his pifture of Elvfium, has rejirefented fpiritual beings 

 conducliiig the earth, thereby indicating that the world is 

 governed by a fupreme intelligence *. 



The laws that govern hiftorical painting are not confined 

 fo it, but extend to everv other fpecies of compofition : hence 

 it becomes the moft noble part of the art, and from which 

 all the others are but as fo many branches. It not only re- 

 quires a thorouffh knowledge of the human figure, but its 

 attire, with landfcapc, archileclure, &c.; fo that we may 

 jurtly term it the only univerfal part of the art. 



Some men, who term themfelves artifts, move in an orbit 

 fo confined that their motions are fcarcely difcerhible without 

 the aid of fome ftrong magnifier. Unfortunately for the arts, 

 the trifler meets with the moil fuccefs ; perhaps the higher 

 parts of the art are not fo immediately within the reach of 

 the capacity of the common obfervcr : like jewels, their in- 

 trinfic value is known but to few. Sir Jofliua juftly ob- 

 ferves, " that the loweft ftyle will be the moft popular, as it 

 falls within the compafs of ignorance itfelf ; and ihe vulgar 

 will always be pleafed with what is natural, in the confined 

 and mifunderftood fenfe of the word." Wifdom is rather 

 an unprofitable commodity; for we too often find in life the 



* The above is one oFa ferk-s of piftures prcfervcd in the great room 

 of thi. Society of Arts in the Adclp'.ii. In thofc pi(f^urcs the iirtift may 

 be f.iid to have invented his fubjeiSts altogether, and has fo connected them 

 as to illuftrate rhat great moral triirh, " that tht: att.inmcnt of happintfs, 

 individual as well as public, dvptnds en the cultivation of the huni^n fd- 

 cuities,"^ They exhibit a fine }yftemoV' ethics, at tlic fame time tliit they 

 cxpiefs, in a molt dttLcrmined and mailtriy way, the beauty aad advait- 

 tiges of Ittjiflacion.- 



moft 



