NOTES. 87 



pidturefque effects which he produces. The fuperior merit 

 of Titian is in the appearance of being above feeking after any 

 fuch artificial excellence. R, 



NO TE-XXVI. VERSE 218, 

 ive fiill fhould loft 



That- folcmn majejly, that foft repofe, . 



Dear ts the curious eye, and only found. 



Where few fair objects Jill an ample ground. 

 It has been faid to be . Hannibal CaracciY opinion, that a 

 perfect compofition ought not to confift of more than twelve 

 figures, which he thought enough to people three groups, 

 and that more would deflroy that majefty and repofe fo necef- 

 fury to the grand, ftile of . Painting. R.. 



NOTE XXVII. VERSE 22 j. 



judgment will fo the f eve rat groups unite, 

 That one compared whole Jhall meet the fight. 



Nothing, fo much breaks in upon, and deftroys this com- 

 padtnefs, as that mode of compofition which cuts in the 

 middle the figures on the -foreground, tho* it was frequently 

 the practice of the greateft Painters, even of the beft age : 

 Michael An gelo has it in the Crucifixion of St. Peter; Raf- 

 faelle in the Cartoon of the Preaching of St. Paul ; and Par- 

 megiano often mewed only the head and moulders above the 

 bafe of the picture : However, the more modern Painters, 

 notwithftanding fuch authorities, cannot.be accufed of having, 

 fallen into this error* 



But, fuppofe we carry the reformation ftill farther, and. 

 not fufFer the fides of the picture to cut off any part of the. 

 figures, the compofition would certainly be more round and. 

 compact within itfelf : All fubjeds, it is true, will not admit 



o 



