§34. INAPPROPRIATE SUBJECTS. 229 



subject worthy of the material, or some composition showing 

 a feeling for ideal beauty, are the horses of Mamelukes and 

 knights, palm-trees, dogs, or other imitations of common- 

 place objects from real life, proclaiming the usual want of 

 invention, and being thoroughly unmeaning and out of place. 

 As no effort of genius led to the design, so no idea of taste 

 is connected with them ; they are more or less like the reality, 

 but suggest no talent beyond the skill of the copyist and of 

 the workman; and as the " faber i/ncertus" is guided by 

 chance in his selection from the menagerie, a horse may come 

 forth, or an elephant, according to his momentary caprice. 

 Eeason, taste, and ideal beauty have no part in such a selec- 

 tion ; and where a more extended work is required, a number 

 of parts are generally put together to complete the required 

 dimensions; without combination, or a "motive."] 



There are, however, cases in which animals may constitute 

 its chief features ; when, for instance, a cup has reference to 

 the turf, to field sports, or some other subject connected with 

 them ; when it will claim the merit of being consistent, and 

 suited to the occasion. [Again, in those centre-pieces of plate, 

 when an attempt is made to introduce the figures of men, they 

 are frequently of various sizes, and characters, in several dis- 

 tinct stages, totally unconnected with any general design; and 

 when classical drapery is imitated, it is not the figure wearing 

 it, but the drapery, that is designed, which too is thrown by 

 a gale of wind into fluttering folds, and has all the mannerism 

 and extravagance of the worst cinque-cento style. Or if an 

 effort is made at composition, the fanciful is generally sub- 

 stituted for the ideal ; and its deformity is increased by 

 overwrought ornament and crowded details.] This custom of 

 introducing human, or other figures, of various sizes, in the 

 same composition, is generally objectionable, whether in silver 

 or in stone ; and not less so are groups of men in one part, 

 and birds or animals in another ; the men half, the birds 



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