Gus. 
father’s house, which would not have di a more 
pees 56> 200 8. more acti nd. When pre- 
mature talent is found to ripen into excellence, 
too y give credit to the stories which blind 
anion lights to record of childhood already at- 
ving what belongs to experience and age. ‘And 
his biographers relate that this picture of Guer- 
cino, at the age of ten, with such a subject as the Vir. 
gin, was actually a picture of extraordinary excellence ; 
~ we may safely class it among those innumerable instances 
of a like nature, in which exaggeration sets not only 
what is probable, but what is possible also, at defiance. 
In the course of his practice, Guercino adopted three 
_ different styles, which he followed at different periods. 
_ The first is not distinguished either by accuracy or 
grace of design ; and in respect of colouring and effect, 
“1s viol i onions, und harsh. It is a bad imita- 
tion of Michael Angelo Caravaggio, whose works at that 
ime were held in high estimation. Dissatisfied with 
attainments, he visited the celebrated schools of art 
at Rome, at Venice, and Bologna, and by great study 
and observation, he and improved his manner; 
and his second stile is free from many of the faults 
which are observable in his previous works. He still 
retained that vivid contrast of light and shade which 
istinguishes the productions of vaggio; and, like 
him, his outlines are generally lost, and blended in the 
,- fondo, but he now far surpassed him in deur of 
‘composition, and in dignity of character. His females 
are remarkable for elegant and fascinating beauty. His 
men, however, are not always free (even in this his best 
and most valued manner) from a degree of vulgarity 
and individuality, which probably arose from too strict 
an nce to the mode from which he painted. 
Among the great performances which he executed. at 
this period, we may reckon the picture of St Petronilla, 
formerly in St Peter’s, and lately removed from the gal- 
ery of the Louvre; the Aurora, in the Villa Ludoyisi ; 
his St Philip of Neri; his St Glena; and his fine pic- 
ture of the Deaeectie In a similar style of bold de- 
__.sign, and magically forcible effect, both of colouring and 
; flight and Sade he executed his grand undertakin 
ofthe Dome at St Piacenza, in which he has carrie 
fresco painting to a high degree of perfection. The 
late Mr Barry, in a letter dated at Bologna, to Sir Jo- 
shua Reynolds, eaksin terms of the highest praise of 
the pictures by ge at that time in the church of 
St Gregorio. Speaking of the solemn colouring in the 
works of Ludovico Carracci, “ Guercino,’? says he, “has 
much of this manner in his fine pictures at St Gregorio, 
with this difference, that I observe in Guercino more 
ellowing and fuoco in the colouring ;” and he regrets 
that this great artist should ever have de from the 
grave majestic tone which he then practised. Like the 
great painter to whom he is thus compared, one great 
excellence of Guercino, is the clearness of his deepest 
shadows. In his best works, he admitted a very large 
roportion of shadow ; yet, notwithstanding their 
Presath and deep repose, every object which it enve- 
> lopesis as distinctly seen as it would be in nature. No- 
_ thing is lost, nothing is left ambiguous. 
__. From this style, however, he was at an advanced 
period of his life tempted to deviate. The manner of 
__ ¢olouring which Guido had , remarkable for 
Sweetness, openness, and delicacy, was become the sub- 
ject. of great admiration ; and Guercino, in attempting to 
ival the peculiarities of style so widely different from 
ho own, lost all that stamped him an original genius, 
and fell into a manner of comparative imbecility. ‘In 
589 
this last manner, were his pictures of the Annunciation Guerickey 
GUE 
at Forli, the Prodigal in the royal palace at Turin, and 
the Marriage of the Virgin in St Paterniano, at Faro, 
This laborious artist left an incredible number of 
works. In the list given by Malvasia, he enumerates 
106 altar-pieces for the churches, 144 large historical 
pictures, besides his great fresco works, and his nume- 
rous portraits and landscapes in private collections. 
He left also a vast number of drawings, which are held 
in great estimation. The etchings which he executed,. 
nine in number, are very spiri He died in 1666, 
aged 76. O 
GUERICKE, Orro. See Pxeumatics, History of: 
GUERNSEY, the Sarnia of the ancients, is an island 
belonging to Great Britain. It is one of the Channel 
islands, lying within the bay of St Michael, and about 
seven leagues from the coast of Normandy. This 
island is of a triangular shape. Its extreme length is 
about 74 miles, and its greatest breadth about 4 miles. 
It is about 21 miles in circuit. According to the 
recent account of it given by Dr Macculloch, it is ele structure. 
vated to the south, and shelves towards the north, 
The southern coast is bounded by high cliffs, stretch- 
ing along part of the eastern coast. The rest of the 
eastern coast, and the northern coast, consist ef a num< 
ber of flat bays, separated by ridges of lofty rocks. De 
Macculloch conceives the island to be divided by an 
imaginary line, drawn from the town of St Peter’s Port 
to Pezeries. A level tract, broken only by cairns and 
rocky hillocks, lies to the north of this line. This tract 
comprehends an inundation of more than 60 years 
standing, which covers three hundred acres. It was 
formerly quite dry before the time of low water, 
but has lately been embanked and drained. Towards 
the south of the imaginary line, the, country forms a 
higher stratum, everywhere intersected by deep glens 
and narrow vallies of various directions. With the ex- 
ception of two or three narrow caves, which form the 
mouths of small vallies intersecting the high land, the 
lofty cliffs which bound the southern tract are continu- 
ous. There are here few detached rocks, but the north- 
ern coast is covered with them. Dr Macculloch obser~ 
ved, that the island is entirely of granitic formation ; 
that the southern division consists wholly of gneiss ; and 
that the rocks which form the northern exhibit 
various kinds of ite, or granitel. At the foot of a 
rocky near Prevolet Point, is a curious cave called 
La Cave Mahie. It is above 200 feet in depth; and 
from an entrance 9 or 10 feet wide and 6 high, it ex- 
tends from 50 to 60 feet in height and breadth, ending 
in granite points. 
he soil of Guernsey, which is eiss, is Soil and 
sey decomposed gn 1 
very fertile, and is well watered by springs and rivu- 
lets: Agriculture is carried on with great care. The 
lands are inclosed with stone fences. The seats of the 
gentry, and the farm-houses and cottages, which are 
v andsome, are agreeably situated among orchards 
Mo peng The ordinary food of the inhabitants, is 
a soup made of cabbage, pease, flour, and a few slices of 
green bacon, Their beverage is cyder. The produce 
of the island is nearly the same as that of the west of 
England. The fruits are very fine. Pigs are fed in 
winter on nips ; and the butter, pork, and veal, are 
in the highest perfection. Red and grey mullets, mac- 
karel, congor eels, and lobsters, are caught in great 
abundance round the island. Coals are imported ; but 
the principal fuel of the poorer inhabitants is sea-weed, 
the ashes of which are used as manure by the farmers. 
The climate of Guernsey is mild and temperate, and Climate. 
