88 NOTES. 



of this ; however we may fafjely recommend it, unlefs the 

 circumftances are very particular, and fuch as are certain to 

 .procure fome ilriking effect by the breach of fo juft a rule. 



R. 



NOTE XXVIII. VERSE 243. 

 Nor yet to Nature fuch Jlritf homage pay, 

 As not to quit 'when Genius leads the way; 

 tNor yet, though Genius all his fuccour fends, 

 Her mimic powrs though ready Memory lends, 

 Prefume from Nature wholly to depart ; 

 For Nature is the Arbitrefs of Art. 



Nothing in the art requires more attention and judgment, 

 or more of that power of discrimination, which may not im- 

 properly be called Genius, than the 'fleering between general 

 ideas and individuality ; for tho' the body of the work muft 

 certainly be compofed by the iirft, in order to communicate a 

 character of grandeur to the whole ; yet a dam of the latter is 

 fometimes neceffary to give an intereft. An individual model, 

 copied with fcrupulous exactnefs, makes a mean ftile like the 

 Dutch; and the neglect of an actual model, and the method 

 of proceeding folely from idea, has a tendency to make the 

 Painter degenerate into a mannerift. 



It is neceffary to keep the mind in repair to replace and 

 fefrefhen thofe impremons of nature which are continually 

 wearing away. 



A circumftance mentioned in the life of Guido, is well 

 worth the attention of Artifts : He was afked from whence he 

 borrowed his idea of beauty, which is acknowledged fuperior 

 to that of any other Painter; he faid he would Ihew all the 

 models he ufed, and ordered a common Porter to fit before 

 him, from whom he drew a beautiful countenance ; this was 

 intended by Guido as an exaggeration of his condud:; but his 



intention 



