41 4 Fine Art^. 



and mechanical operation, to a wonderful extent, 

 llie numerous copies obtained, by means of this 

 invention, are said to possess great excellence. The 

 utihty of this art, if its merits be such as have been 

 mentioned, is too obvious to require explanation. 



A method was invented not long since by Mr. 

 Robert Salmon, of Bedfordshire, in England, of 

 transferring valuable paintings from the substance 

 on which they were originally painted, to another 

 and more eligible one. The utility and importance 

 of this invention will be readily appreciated by 

 every intelligent reader. 



Numerous experiments have also been made, 

 during the last age, w^ith respect to the best mode 

 of preparing and laying on Colours. For these, the 

 art of painting is indebted to several chemists and 

 practical artists. But they are too numerous, and 

 would require too much minuteness of detail to be 

 explained in the present sketch.' 



Finally, to this section belongs some notice 

 of the art of imitating pictures in Needle-ivork, 

 which has been brought to greater perfection 

 during the eighteenth century than ever be- 

 fore. In very early times we read of specimens 

 of needle-work^ by the hands of celebrated females, 

 which attracted much attention, and w^hich were 

 exhibited as decorations of dwellings, and as mo- 

 numents of ingenious industry. But within a few 

 years past, improvements have been made in this 

 elegant art, which far surpass the most renowned 

 productions of the same kind in former ages. The 



7 The laborious and ingenious experiments made by modern artists, 

 particularly those directed towards the recovery of the celebrated Venetian 

 mode of colouring, have not been attended with so much success as might 

 have been expected. Mr. West has been much engaged in this inquiry, 

 but without, as yet, attaining the desired object. His colours, however, 

 are good and permanent. The same cannot be said in favour of Sir Joshua 

 Reynolds. His colouring, though much praised in his day, is now found 

 to fade exceedingly. M> S, note of Mr, J. R. Murray. 



