304 ANDREW JACKSON HOWE. 



against those who were regarded as impious for 

 desecrating the dead; and the great sketcher studied 

 the skeletal and muscular parts of dogs, deer, horses, 

 and wild boars, that he might represent these crea- 

 tures faithfully in art. Poets are granted the license 

 to overstate an incident; and artists enjoy the indul- 

 gence of the same liberal spirit. A piece of art 

 may be a shade overdrawn, and the custom will not 

 be criticised, but Leonardo da Vinci quite overstepped 

 the margin of favor granted to those of his profes- 

 sion. His otherwise fine figures exhibit too much 

 muscularity appear crowded with anatomy. The 

 partakers of the "Last Supper" are athletes, rather 

 than the "meek in spirit." It was pardonable if not 

 commendable in Rubens to give sturdy trunks and 

 limbs to the stalwart men who lowered the body of 

 Christ in " The Descent from the Cross." 



The reason Grecian gods were so attractive, and 

 goddesses so beautiful, is that they were copied in art 

 from the shapeliest of human forms. Antique forms 

 represented evil influences, hence their physiques were 

 in keeping with their moral natures were anatomical 

 distortions. 



The study of human anatomy is said to be dry, 

 and so it may be in its restricted details ; but when a 

 free rein is given to the lover of the beautiful in nature, 

 where can he find more to interest and instruct than 

 in the contemplation of anatomical principles? The 

 range of mobility in the human arm is permitted by 

 sets of muscles which act on the short arms of skele- 

 tal levers, that the limb may be small, quick-moving, 

 and graceful. The muscles of the leg are arranged 

 with a view to support the body on one limb, and to 

 walk on two feet. The upright attitude in man is a 



