Fine Ar(9. 405 



directed to the most deserving; and thus, by ob- 

 vious means, robbed the latter of no small share 

 both of fame and excellence. 



But if the eighteenth century were less distin- 

 guished than some preceding ages, for producing 

 specimens of first-rate excellence in the fine arts, 

 it may safely be pronounced to exceed all other pe- 

 riods in forming numerous, large, and splendid col- 

 lections of specimens of this kind. The monu- 

 ments of human genius, especially in painting and 

 sculpture, collected and displayed in the city of 

 Paris, at the close of the century, are undoubtedly 

 more numerous and magnificent than were ever 

 before exhibited in one place. '^' Next to these the 

 collections of a similar kind in Germany, Peters- 

 burgh, and Great-Britain, are entitled to high dis- 

 tinction for their extent and excellence. 



In several of the departments of the fine arts 

 there are a few names and improvements which 

 distinguish the eighteenth century, and which de- 

 serve to be noticed in this retrospect.' 



PAINTING. 



In this noble art the century under considera- 

 tion is honourably distinguished. From the fif- 

 teenth century till toward the middle of the eigh- 

 teenth, scarcely any painters of first-rate excel- 

 lence had appeared. The mantles of those great 



"M The violation committed on the treasures of the fine arts in Italy, in 

 the course of the late war, under the sanction of the French g;overnnHnt, 

 while it certainly cannot be justified on the principles of national probity 

 and honour, may, perhaps, have an unfavourable influence on the progress 

 of the arts in France, 



X Several of the facts and names mentioned In this chapter were commu- 

 nicated to the author by Mr. John R, Murrav, of the city of New-York, 

 a youngs gentleman of extensive information, and excellent taste in the fine 

 arts, who has ju'St returned to his native country, after making the tour of 

 Europe, where he viewed the noble collections which that part of the 

 world affords, with a degree of intelligence and accuracy of obstrvatlon by 

 MO means common among travellers. 



