JLAVATER’S LOOKING -GLASS. 
On the Neceffity of Studying the Conjiitution of 
Living Creatures, and the Imitative Arts, 
T an exhibition of pictures, the majority of 
fpectators is captivated by lively colours, 
over-ftrained forms, and extravagant embellifliments. 
So long as their fenfes and foibles are flattered, they 
gaze with pleafure at a dauber’s painting, which will 
not Hand the teft of a difcerning eye, when it comes 
to be appreciated by the ftandard of true tafte and 
judgment. 
But men endowed with thefe qualities will find 
out a mafter-piece, that has been flighted or unno- 
ticed by vulgar eyes. 
Their raptures, then, proceed from admiration of 
juft defign, true likenefs, comely looks, and every 
trivial appendage that ftrikes them at once in a 
pi6fure, where, with one glance, they fee art ap- 
proach Nature’s faireft fliape, fo far as to renew, on 
ESSAY I. 
their minds, the impreflTions made by the real ob- 
B 4 
je6ls 
