318 



Rembrandt. It is, in one sense, and, I 

 believe, in the truest sense, more natural 

 than the Denner; and as you may doubt 

 my opinion, and think it rather paradoxi- 

 cal, I will mention a passage from one of 

 Sir Joshua Reynold's Discourses, which 

 struck me so forcibly when I first read it, 

 and has since recurred to me on so many 

 occasions, that I dare say I can nearly re- 

 peat it. 



" The detail of particulars," says that 

 excellent writer, " which does not assist 

 " the expression of the main characteristic, 

 " is worse than useless ; it is mischievous, 

 " as it dissipates the attention, and draws 

 <fc it from the principal point. It may be 

 " remarked, that the impression which is 

 " left on our mind, even of things which 

 " are familiar to us, is seldom more than 

 " then* general effect ; beyond which, we 

 " we do not look in recognizing such ob- 

 M jects. To express this in painting, is to 

 " express what is congenial and natural to 

 "the mind -of man, and what gives him, 

 " by reflection, his own mode of conceiv- 



