3d llhijlration of the Prhiciples of Compoflt'ion 



may difguff. In compofing fcenes of rural life, though they 

 do not require any great elevation of thought, or extraordi- 

 nary capacity in the arrangement of the parts, yet they 

 demand the greateft care in the finifhing, cleannefs and deli- 

 cacy in the colouring, and the utmoft unity and fimplicity 

 throughout the whole. To give intereft, we fhould add all 

 that (lock of lefTer graces dependent on ourfelves ; fuch as a 

 light elegant touch, beauty and cleannefs of colour, and a 

 graceful fimplicity of form. Scenes that do not intereft from 

 themfelves mud be made to do fo by the labours of the artifi; 

 but where the fubject is grand, we fhould clothe it with all 

 the dignity of art, accompanied with a broad, firm, and fpi- 

 rited handling. 



The beautiful, in painting, as in poetry and mufic, is cal- 

 culated to move the fofter paffions; therefore every thing 

 abrupt and hard fhould be rejected in the forms of the ob- 

 jects, chiaro-fcuro, or colour ; as is inflanced in Claude's beft 

 pictures. But where a ftronger emotion is to be raifed, the 

 images, forms, colour, and light and fhade, by pofleffing con- 

 trary properties, will confpire to excite oppofite fenfations, as 

 in the works of Salvator Rofa, and fome of Wilfon's grand 

 compofitions. 



Abrupt, angular, and dark* objects aflbciate beft with the 

 fublime, accompanied with a certain degree of obfeurity and 

 depth of colour. 



Violent paffious of the mind are ever accompanied with 

 actions more or lefs angular; on the contrary, beauty loves 

 the eafy fvxeping Sine of grace, with perfpicuity, light, and 

 a richnefs of colour: in fact, one effect fhould, as much as 

 poflible, be calculated to excite painful, the other agreeable, 

 fenfations. Mountains involved in clouds, and objects feen 

 through a miff, will always appear with more dignity than if 

 diffinctly viewed. 



All agreeable fenfations are founded in temperance: too 

 great a quantity of light, colour, or found, excites pain. Tt is 

 the temperate of eating, drinking, (leeping, nay, of every thing, 

 that makes tlv-m delightful. The intemperance of Alexander 

 paufed him to weep for more worlds to conquer — Horrid! 



Maffy and dark flties will beft affocjate with the grand, 



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