NOTES. 71 



To become a great proficient, an Artift ought to fee clearly 

 enough to enable him to point out to others the principle on 

 which he works, otherwife he will be confined, and what is 

 worfe, he will be uncertain. A degree of mechanical practice, 

 odd as it may feem, mutt precede theory : The reafon is, that 

 if we wait till we are partly able to comprehend the theory of 

 art, too much of life will be pafled to permit us to acquire 

 facility and power : fomething therefore mull be done on truft, 

 by mere imitation of given patterns before the theory of art 

 can be felt. Thus we fhall become acquainted with the ne- 

 ceflities of the art, and the very great want of Theory, the fenfe 

 of which want can alone lead us to take pains to acquire it : 

 for what better means can we have of knowing to a certainty, 

 and of imprinting ftrongly on our mind our own deficiencies, 

 than unfuccefsful attempts ? This Theory will be beft under- 

 flood by, and in, Practice. If Practice advances too far before 

 Theory, her guide, (he is likely to lofe her way, and if {he 

 keeps too far behind, to be difcouraged. R. 



NOTE IX. VERSE 89. 

 "Tivas not by 'words Apelles charm d mankind. 

 As Frefnoy has condefcended to give advice of a prudential 

 kind, let me be permitted here to recommend to Artifts to 

 talk as little as pofllble of their own works, much lefs to 

 praife them ; and this not fo much for the fake of avoiding 

 the character of vanity, as for keeping clear of a real detriment; 

 of a real productive caufe which prevents his progrefs in his 

 art, and dulls the edge of enterprize. 



He who has the habit of infinuating his own excellence to 



^the little circle of his friends, with whom he comes into 



contact, will grow languid in his exertions to fill a larger 



fphere of reputation : He will fall into the habit of acquiefcing 



in 



