THE 
MONTHLY MAGAZINE. ~ 
* 
~— 
No. 114. | _ May 1, 1804. — [No. 4, of Vou. 17. 
é 
ORIGINAL COMMUNICATIONS, 
” 
For the Monthly Magazine. and wrinkle is exactly delineated ; but, 
On the comparative VALUE of the different after all, nothing is produced except a 
PRODUCTIONS of the FINE ARTS. likenefs of realities which every where 
IBBON, relating, in his 24th chap- meet our eyes. Now, what is the naked 
ter, the events of the Emperor Ju- Grecian ftatue to whick Gibbon alludes, 
lian’s expedition into Perfia, defcribes, but, forthe moft part, an imitation of this 
withhis ufual force of painting, the entire kind? Iknow I fhall be told of Apollos 
deftruStion of ** three fately palaces, labo- and Venufes which furpafs in grace and 
rioufly enriched with every produétion beauty all ideas of the human form that 
that could gratify the luxury and pride of can be derived from the obfervation of 
an eaftern monarch.’” After which he real nature. But, not to fuggeft that fu-- 
makes the reflection, that thefe wanton per-human figures arein fome fenfe a-kin 
ravages need not excite in ourbreafts any to monfters—whatarethe gladiators, ath: 
vehement emotions of pity orrefentment. letes, dancers, liftening-flaves, &c. whieh 
‘** A fingle naked ftatue, (fays he,) finifh- are the admired produétions of Grecian 
ed by the hand of a Grecian artift, is of art, but forms of common life transferred 
more genuine value than all thefe rudeand to marble? Exquifite fkill, indeed, is 
coftly monuments of barbaric labour.”” difplayed in. thefe imitations ;. but -the 
I reperufed this paflage juft after view- {kill of the artift is the only impreffion 
ing, with great delight, Mr. Danieil’s which they convey to the mind above the 
exquifite Views of the remains of ancient fame figures in flefh and blood. It isa ~ 
Edifices in Hindoftan; and it led me to great miftake to fuppofe thatthe tafte of » 
confider, with fome attention, the founda- Greece itfelf was fo fimple and chaftifed as 
tion of Mr. Gibbon’s fentiment, as far tobe content with fuch performances.— 
as it related to the comparifon of different When its artifts meant to elevate and 
works of art. Itappeared tome, that the aftonifh, they did not confine themfelves 
purpofes of thofe arts, which have not mere to common materials and every-day mo- 
utility for their obje&, might be claffled dels. The mof celebrated works of their 
under the two heads of imitation and cre- great {culptors, which were confecrated to 
ation ; and that the true mode ofeftimat- religion, and intended to infpire the fub- 
ing the refpective value of produétions in limeit emotions, were of coloff21 dimen- 
the two claffes, was, toexamine thenature fions, and richly decorated with gold and 
of the ideas acquired by the mind on the ivory. 
view of each. Simple imitation, if exe- In the eftimate of art we may therefore 
cuted in a perfect manner, excites, in the allow creation the precedence over imita- 
firft place, a fenfe of admiration of the tioz. Belides the novelty that always ac 
{kill of the artift, which is doubtlefs a companies attempts to create, an unlimit- 
pleafing emotion, and conneéted with en- ed fcope is.afforded for all the beauty and 
larged ideas of the human powers. But grandeur that the mind is capable of con- 
the effect of an imitation muft finally de- ceiving. I prefume, that Mr. Gibbon 
pend upon the thing imitated; and if that could fcarcely have hefitated to place a 
be either void of intrinfic beauty or gran- ~ Grecian temple higher in the fcale than a 
deur, or fuch as is rendered indifferent to Grecian ftatue. What the archite&ture of 
us through frequent occurrence, it cannot the palaces of King Sapor was, he knew 
be faid that the mind has made any confi- as, littleas myfelf ;. and hisepithet of bar- 
derable acquifition by contemplating it. baric is no more than claflical cant. But 
The Dutch fchool of painting abounds if they bore any refemblance to that ftyle 
with objects of this kind. We are ftruck — of oriental building, of which Mr. Daniell * 
with the accuracy with which a carpet, or has given us fpecimens of fuch remote an- 
apiece of houfehold-furniture, is répre- tiquity, neither greatnefs of defign, nor 
fented, and wonder at the fkil! and labour fanciful variety of ornament, could be 
befowed on ahead, in which every haixs wanting to then. And, I prefume, few 
MonTHLY Maa, No, 114, x curious 
