NOTES. 217 



All thofe fchools are equally to be confidered as followers 

 of Nature : He who produces a work, analogous to the mind 

 or imagination of man, is as natural a Painter as he whofe 

 works are calculated to delight the eye; the works of Mi- 

 chael Angelo or Julio Romano, in this fenfe,. may be faid to 

 be as natural as thofe of the Dutch Painters. The ftudy, 

 therefore, of the nature or affections of the mind is as necef- 

 fary to the theory of the higher department of art, as the 

 knowledge of what will be pieafing orofFenfive to. the eye, . is 

 to the lower ftile. 



What relates to the mind or imagination, fuch as Invention, 

 Character, ExprefTion, Grace, or Grandeur, certainly cannot 

 be taught by rules ; little more can be done than pointing out 

 where they are to be found : it is a part which belongs to ge- 

 neral education, and will operate in proportion to the culti- 

 vation of the mind -of the Artifr: 



The greater part of the rules in this Poem are, therefore, 

 neceflarily confined to what relates to the eye; and it may be 

 remarked, that none of trrofe rules make any pretenlions to- 

 wards improving Nature, or going contrary to her work ; 

 their tendency is merely to mew what is truly Nature. 



Thus, for inftance, a flowing outline is recommended, be- 

 caufe Beauty (which alone is Nature) cannot be produced 

 without it; old age or leannefs produces ft rait lines; corpu- 

 lency round lines; but in a ftate of health, accompanying 

 youth, the outlines are waving, flowing, and ferpentine : Thus 

 again, if we are told to avoid the chalk, the brick, or the 

 leaden colour, it js becaufe real flefh never partakes of thofe 

 hues, tho' ill-coloured pictures are always inclinable to one 

 or. other of thofe defeds. 



Rules are to be confidered likewife as fences placed only 

 w*here trefpafs is expefted; and are particularly enforced in. 



P 3 proportion 



