LOOKING-GLASS. 
11 
It is not, however, lefs true, that practitioners 
only can form a juft conception of the time required 
to imprefs upon a fpeCtator’s mind, fuch a delufion 
as to make him imagine that an admirable mafter- 
piece was produced by bold or fudden ftrokes of 
art ; but when merit meets with applaufe from thofe 
who know the pains taken, and difficulties over- 
come, it affords the moft acceptable recompenfe : 
yet the cool indifference that moft people feel in. 
feeing Nature difplayed, produces in them the fame 
infenfibility whenever they review a juft reprefen- 
tation of her faireft works j for a ftriCt refemblance 
between fuch copies and originals only ferves to 
renew feiifations familiar to vulgar minds. In that 
cafe the painter would be lefs meritorious, were he 
more applauded by the ignorant clafs, whofe ex- 
ample in high life renders it fometimes unfaftiion- 
able to take much notice of paintings, where every 
objeCl bears its natural appearance. 
You, then, young pupils, who have an honeft 
ambition to rife and make a figure in the world, 
above all things fail not to ftudy Nature. Read 
daily fome pages of her volumes, and fet no value 
upon other books, unlefs they are commentaries of 
her fuperior work. Yesj the human body alone 
contains a compleat fyftem of anatomy *, wffiich 
* ON ANATOMY. 
Anatomy reveals great Nature’s plan, 
Difplays on earth the majefty of man, 
you 
