PART II. 



OF PAINTING. 



65 



CHAPTER 111. 



OF THE ADVANTAGE TO BE DERIVED FROM STUDYING 

 PRINTS AND PAINTINGS. 



The study of pictures, in connexion with that of painting or 

 drawing, will facilitate the acquirement of the general princi- 

 ples of the art, and materially contribute towards the forma- 

 tion of a good taste in visible objects. No guide is so useful, 

 for enabling the improver to discern the excellent from the 

 inferior scenes in nature ; and, in general, no study can better 

 direct the architect, both in chusing the forms of his buildings, 

 and in suiting them to the surrounding scenery. In forming 

 ideas of buildings from pictures, however, care must be taken 

 to distinguish between the effects of time or accident, and the 

 result of good taste in design. Many Italian edifices, stuck 

 round with pilasters, half columns, and other useless appen- 

 dages or degraded parts, are in a bad taste, and could never 

 give pleasure to a person who had studied fitness and painting, 

 and applied their general principles to the art of building, with- 

 out being prejudiced in favour of any style or set of models. 

 Still such edifices are not unfrequently introduced into the 

 landscapes of the best masters ; but then, either in ruins, under 



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