THE 



O F 



CHARLES ALPHONSE DU FRESNOY, 



On the WORKS of the 

 Principal and beft PAINTERS of the two laft Ages. 



PAINTING was in its perfection amongft the Greeks. 

 The principal fchools were at Sycion, afterwards at 

 Rhodes, at Athens, and at Corinth, and at laft in Rome. 

 Wars and Luxury having overthrown the Roman Empire, it 

 was totally extinguifhed, together with all the noble Arts, 

 the ftudies of Humanity, and the other Sciences. 



It began to appear again in the year 1450, amongft fome 

 Painters of Florence, of which DOMENICO GHIRLANDAIO 

 was one, who was Matter to Michael Angelo, and had fome 

 kind of reputation, though his manner was Gothic, and very 

 dry. 



MICHAEL ANGELO, his Difciple, flourifhed in the times 

 of Julius II. Leo X. and of feven fucceflive Popes. He was 

 a Painter, a Sculptor, and an Architect, both civil and mili- 

 tary. The choice which he made of his attitudes was not 

 always beautiful or pleafing -, his gufto of defign was not the 

 fineft, nor his outlines the mofl elegant; -the folds of his 

 draperies, and the ornaments of his habits, were neither noble 

 nor graceful. He was not a little fantaftical and extravagant 

 in his compofitions ; he was bold, even to rafhnefs, in taking 



R 2 liberties 



