Architecture in the United States. 213 



however a quotation from the writings of a man, whose comprehensive 

 and practical knowledge of the arts entides every thing from him to 

 our highest confidence — I mean Sir Joshua Reynolds. 



"1 observe as a fundamental ground, common to all the arts with 

 which we have any concern in this discourse,* that they address 

 themselves only to two faculties of the mind, its imagination and 

 sensibility. All theories which attempt to direct or to control the art, 

 when any principles falsely called rational, which we form to our- 

 selves upon a supposition of what ought in reason to be the end or 

 means of art, independent of the known first effects produced by ob- 

 jects on the imagination, must be false and delusive. For although 

 it may appear bold to say it, the imagination is here the residence of 

 truth. If the imagination be affected, the conclusion is fairly shewn j 

 if it be not affected, the reasoning is erroneous, because the end is 

 not obtained ; the effect itself being the test and the only test of the 

 truth and efficacy of the means." * * * "It remains only to 

 speak a few words of architecture, which does not come under the 

 denomination of an imitative art. It applies itself, like music, (and 

 I believe we may add poetry,) directly to the imagination, without the 

 intervention of any kind of imitation. There is in architecture, as in 

 painting, an inferior branch of art, in which the imagination ap- 

 pears to have no concern. It [architecture] does not however, ac- 

 quire the name of a polite and liberal art from its usefulness or ad- 

 ministering to our wants or necessities, but from some higher prin- 

 ciple : we are sure that in the hands of a man of genius it is capable 

 of inspiring sentiment and of filling the mind with great and sublime 

 ideas. 



" It may be worth the attention of artists to consider what materi- 

 als are in their hands that may contribute to this end ; and whether 

 this art has it not in its power to address itself to the imagination with 

 effect, by more ways than are generally employed by architects. To 

 pass over the eflect produced by that general symmetry and propor- 

 tion by which the eye is delighted, as the ear is with music, architec- 

 ture certainly possesses many principles in common with poetry and 

 painting." 



* Thirteenth discourse hefore the Royal Academy ; the subjects of which are 

 painting, poetry, acting, gardening and architecture. The whole of these discourses 

 are well worthy of an architect's attention. 



