ii2 NOTES. 



who has learned its language by habit, will fometimes correct 

 the moft learned grammarian who has been taught by rule 

 only: The .idiom, which is the peculiarity of language, and 

 that in which its native grace is feated, can be learned by 

 habit alone. 



To poffefs this perfect habit, the fame conduct is neceffary 

 in art as in language, that it fliould be begun early, whilfl the 

 organs are pliable and imprefiions ar-e eafily taken, and that we 

 fhould accuftom ourfelves, whilft this habit is forming, to fee 

 beauty only, and avoid as much as poffible deformity or what 

 is incorrect : Whatever is got this way may be faid to be pro- 

 perly made your own., it becomes a part of yourfelf, and 

 operates unperceived. The mind acquires by fuch exercife a 

 kind of inftinctive rectitude which fuperfedes all rules. R. 



NOTE LIV. VERSE 733. 

 See Raphael there his forms celejlial trace, 

 Unrivall'd Jovereign of the realms of grace. 

 The pre-eminence which Frefnoy has given to thofe three 

 great Painters, Raffaelle, Michael Angela, and Julio Romano, 

 fufficiently points out to us what aught to be the chief object 

 of our purfuit. Tho' two of them were either totally ignorant 

 or never practifed any of thofe graces of the art which proceed 

 from the management of colours or the difpoiltion of light 

 and madow; and the other (Raffaelle) was far from being 

 eminently ikilful in thefe particulars, yet they all jufHy delerve 

 that high rank in which Frefnoy has placed them ; Michael 

 Angelq, for the grandeur and fublimity of his characters, as 

 well as for his profound knowledge of defign ; Raffaelle, for 

 the judicious arrangement of his materials, for the grace, the 

 dignity, and expreflion of his characters; and Julio Romano, 

 for poffeffmg the true poetical genius of painting, perhaps, 

 to a higher degree than any other Painter whatever. 



In 



