AN E C D O T E S 



O F 



PAINTING, &c. 



CHAP. I, 



^be ear Heft Accounts of Painting in Engl and i 



THEY who undertake to write the 

 Hiftory of any art, are fond of carry- 

 ing it*s origine as far back as poiTiblc. 

 When This tends to fhow the improve- 

 ments made in i^;, by comparing latter works 

 with the firfl: rude inventions, it may be of 

 fervice ; but it often happens that the Hif- 

 torian thinks the antiquity of a difcover}' 

 refle6ls honour on his country, though per- 

 haps his country has been fo carelefs or has 

 wanted genius fo much, as to have refined 

 very little ofi the original hints. Some men 

 pufh this farther, and venerate the firfl: dawn- 

 VoL. L A ings 



