Si UNIVERSAL ERUDITION. 



far from Being fo difficult to produce as fomc 

 may imagine. 



XIII. It is a general euftom to make from a- 

 hiftory a gallery of portraits, formed of the eha- 

 radlers of the principal actors that are introduced: 

 on the fcene : to paint their exterior figures, as 

 well as their manners, pafnons, &c. We do not 

 entirely difapprove of this euftom ; but who- 

 ever (hall confider how difficult it is for a painter 

 to catch the likenets of an object that he has be- 

 fore his eyes, and of a difeerning perfon to paint 

 the mind even of thore with whom he is^ inti- 

 mately acquainted, will- ea% judge what kind of 

 regard is to be paid to thefe iort of portraits that 

 are drawn feveral ages after the exiftence of their 

 originals-, the features of which are colle&ed 

 from ancient authors, who frequently knew no- 

 more about them than the modern painter. Oner 

 of the beft drawn portraits we have ever read, i* 

 that which M. Ductos has placed at the end of 

 his excellent hiftory of Lewis XI. And yet we 

 imagine, that if any courtier who was admitted 

 to a familiar acquaintance with that monarch, 

 was to come now upon the earth, he would fcarce 

 know his maftcr. As to thofe formal panegyrics 

 which fome hiftorians make on their heroes, there 

 is nothing which appears to us more infipid, 

 and more unworthy of the truth and gravity of 

 hiftory. 



xrv. 



