328 ON TASTE IN ORNAMENTAL DESIGN. Paet II. 



and two artists will copy the same subject from nature, and 

 both represent it faithfully, and convey that idea to the be- 

 holder; and yet each picture will differ, according to the 

 feeling, the style, and other peculiarities, of those painters. 



94. Again, a picture which copies the colour of a scene 

 does not necessarily convey a better idea of it than another 

 which only represents it in sepia, or by an engraving. It is 

 not the mere imitation which is required ; nor does art consist 

 in that alone. The Chinese imitate wonderfully well, but 

 their imitation is not art ; and a figure copied so as to give 

 all the most minute anatomical details, does not on that 

 account alone command admiration : it will perhaps not hold 

 so high a place as one less minutely imitated. The study of 

 the anatomy is a means to assist the artist in drawing the 

 figure ; but it is only when the mind knows how to profit by 

 this and other studies, that an artist can make a good 

 picture, or a beautiful statue. Nor is mere minuteness of finish 

 one of the highest merits ; and choice of subject, mode of 

 treatment, and other points are essential, as well as proper 

 attention to detail. The eye does not see every brick in a 

 wall, nor does it require the portrait of each to be presented 

 to it in a painting ; at the same time that it expects every 

 object to have its true character; — that an oak be dis- 

 tinguished from another tree ; and yet without every indi- 

 vidual leaf being portrayed. It is not an attempt to 

 represent every thing as a fac- simile that will make pre- 

 Eaphaelitism useful " in its generation." It does not even 

 accomplish what it professes ; for the reduction of size renders 

 it impossible to introduce every leaf in the tree, or every hair 

 on an animal's back ; nor if the space permitted would it be 

 desirable. It will, however, confer a great benefit on painting 

 in this country, where greater attention to detail, as well as 

 careful drawing, is so much wanted ; and we already begin to 

 perceive some of its good effects, even in many of those who 



