162 APPENDIX. 



her - y and from the practice of both thefe Arts the rules have 

 been drawn, by which we are inftructed how to pleafe, and to 

 compafs that end which they obtained, by following their ex- 

 ample ; for Nature is ftill the fame in all ages, and can never 

 be contrary to herfelf. Thus, from the practice of ^Efchylus, 

 Sophocles, and Euripides, Ariftotle drew his rules for Tragedy, 

 and Philoftratus for Painting. Thus, amongfb the moderns, 

 the Italian and French critics, by fludying the precepts of 

 Ariftotle and Horace, and having the example of the Grecian 

 Poets before their eyes, have given us the rules of modern 

 Tragedy ; and thus the critics of the fame countries, in the 

 Art of Painting, have given the precepts of perfecting that 

 art. It is true, that Poetry has one advantage over Painting 

 in thefe laft ages, that we have ftill the remaining examples 

 both of the Greek and Latin Poets ; whereas the Painters have 

 nothing left them from Apelles, Protogenes, Parrhafius, 

 Zeuxis, and the reft, but only the teftimonies which are given 

 of their incomparable works. But inftead of this, they have 

 fome of their beft ftatues, bailb- relievos, columns, obelifks, &c. 

 which are faved out of the common ruin, and are ftill prefer- 

 ved in Italy; and by well diftinguifhing what is proper to 

 Sculpture, and what to Painting, and what is common to 

 them both, they have judicioufly repaired that lofs ; and the 

 great genius of Raphael and others, having fucceeded to the 

 times of barbarifm and ignornance, the knowledge of Painting 

 is now arrived to a fupreme perfection*, tho? the performance 

 of it is much declined in the prefent age. The greateft age 

 for Poetry amongft the Romans, was certainly that of Au- 

 guftus Casfar ; and yet we are told, that Painting was then at 

 its loweft ebb, and perhaps Sculpture was alfo declining at the 

 fame time. In the reign of Domitian, and feme who fucceed- 

 ed him, Poetry was but meanly cultivated, but Painting emi- 

 nently 



