NOTES. 81 



that it is indeed almoft a thing impoffible to give them, parti- 

 cularly in what regards grace and elegance of outline. Ana- 

 tomy and Proportion, according to him, may enable a perfon 

 to defign with correctnefs, but cannot give that noble part 

 of the art, which ought to be attributed to the mind or un- 

 derftanding, according to which it is more or lefs delicate." I 

 think Frefnoy has hinted the very fame thing more than 

 once; and, perhaps, like Coypel, lays too great a ftrefs.on the 

 mental faculty, which we call Strength of Genius ; but the 

 confideration of this does not come within the province which 

 I have allotted myfelf in thefe critical notes. M. 



NOTE XX. VERSE 162. 

 Xet deem not y Tenths, that Perfpeffiive can give 

 nofe charms complete, 6y which your works flail live. 

 The tranflator has foftened, if not changed, the text, which 

 boldly pronounces that Perfpedive cannot be depended on as 

 a certain rule. Frefnoy was not aware that he was arguing 

 from the abufe of the Art of Perfpective, the bufmefs of 

 which is to reprefent objefts as they appear to the eye, or as 

 they are delineated on a tranfparent plane placed between the 

 fpectator and the object. The rules of Perfpective, as well 

 as all other rules, may be injudiciouily applied; and it muffc 

 be acknowledged that a mifapplication of them is but too 

 frequently found even in the works of the moft coniiderable 

 artifts : It is not uncommon to fee a figure on the fore- 

 ground reprefented near twice the fize of another which is 

 fuppofed to be removed but a few feet behind it ; this, tho' 

 true according to rule, will appear monftrous. This error 

 proceeds from, placing the point of diftance too near the point 

 of ii^ht, by which means the diminution of objects is fo 

 iudden, as to appear unnatural, unlefs you ftand fo near the 



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