217 



Such observations as I have just sup^ 

 posed to be made by a single person, must 

 have gradually occurred to a variety of 

 observers during the progress of the art : 

 many of them may have seen the artists 

 at work, and remarked the pleasure they 

 seemed to take in imitating by spirited 

 strokes of the pencil, any rough and broken 

 objects, any strongly marked peculiarity 

 of character, or of light and shadow ; and 

 may have observed at the same time, with 

 what comparative slowness and caution 

 they proceeded, when the correct symmetr} r , 

 the delicate and insensible transitions of 

 colour, and of light and shadow in a beau- 

 tiful human face or body were to be ex- 

 pressed ; and that although the picture, 

 when finished in its highest perfection, 

 would be the pride and glory of the art, 

 such a real object would to all eyes be yet 

 more enchanting. They might thence be 

 Jed to conclude, that beauty (and gran- 

 deur stands upon the same footing) whether 

 real or imitated, is a source of delight 



