Sect. I.] Painting. 129 



most numerous and the most excellent painters, 

 during'thc century in (juestion, have been produced 

 in Italy, Great Britain, France, and the United 

 States. 



The painters of Great JSritain, about the year 

 1750, with a view oFpro.noting their art, associ- 

 ated together, and formed a kind of academy, 

 which was supported by annual subscription. This 

 association w^as continued, with various changes 

 in the degree of its respectability and success, until 

 176s J when the Royal Academy of Fainting, Sculp- 

 ture, and Aixhitecture, was established, under 

 the auspices of the king, and composed of the 

 ablest artists residing in that country. In the 

 establishment of this institution no individual was 

 more active, or exerted a more useful influence, 

 than sir Joshua Reynolds, who held the highest 

 rank in his profession, and who was for many years 

 president of the Academy. From the rise of this 

 institution, which at once furnished a School for 

 instruction, a scene o^ Aimual E.vhibition, and nu- 

 merous excitements to emulation, wx may date 

 the revival of a correct taste for the fme arts in 

 Great Britain. 



In the last twenty years of the century many 

 specimens of painting were produced by British 

 artists, which o-Ive them hio-h distinction in acorn- 

 parative estimate of their talents with those of 

 other nations. Toward producing this eftect 

 much has been ascribed to the eloquent and in- 

 structive discourses of sir Joshua Reynolds, who 

 appears to have taken unwearied and successful 

 pains to form the taste of his pupils on the princi- 

 ples of the great masters oi the Italian and Fie'- 



VoL. II. K 



