\n P R E F A C E. 



are any talents among us, this feems the 

 crifis for their appearance : The Throne it- 

 felf is now the altar of the graces, and who- 

 ever facrifices to them becomingly, is fure 

 that his offerings will be fmiled upon by a 

 Prince, who is at once the example and pa- 

 tron of accomplifnments. The inflitution 

 of a fchool of ftatuary in the houfe of a 

 young * Nobleman of the firft rank rivals 

 the boafled munificence of foreign Princes. 

 When we abound with heroes, orators and 

 patrons, it will be hard if their images are 

 not tranfmitted to pofterity under gracefull 

 reprcfcntations. 



This is by no means faid to depreciate the 

 artifts v/e have, but to infpire with emula- 

 tion thofe arifing. Ryfbrack, Roubiliae, 

 Scheemaker, Wilton, would do Iionour to 

 any country : but hitherto dicir ficill has 

 been in a m^anner confined to private miO- 

 numents. When we have fubjedts for hif^ 

 tory, the people ihould read on public edi- 

 fices the adtions of their anccllors and fel- 

 low-citizens in bafreliefs : Buds and ftatues 

 fhould reward the galant behaviour of the 

 brave, and exhibit them as models. What 

 made Rome more venerable than every 



• Tiie Duke of Richmond. 



flreet 



