1805.] 
eminent talents, which were not known 
In 1739. 
It muft, neverthelefs, not be diffembled, 
that the’art has had the difadvantage of 
being ufurped by men unknown in the 
ranks “of artifts, amd who neither had the 
neeeffary education nor. fufficient talents 
to practife it. This alone was a pveju- 
dice to the art. But the fame men have 
been feen to occupy places which have 
ever been referved for talents of the firft 
rate, to be entrufted with the care of pre- 
cious monuments, though incapable of 
the truft, or with the erection of new ones, 
in the rare occaficns which  prefented 
themielves Thefe diforders prevailed 
during periods of anarchy, and at a time 
when the Government wanted ftrencth, 
inteligence, and elevation. We notice 
the effects becaufe they have been prejudi- 
cial to the art, becaufe they might have 
been ftill more difaftrous, and that they 
may be guarded againt in future. 
The mifchief which ‘the art has exreri- 
enced is not, however, fo great as might 
be apprehended, It is true, the. eye is 
often ftruck with crude and ridiculous 
ftiuctures, whofe defe&ts originate in the 
above mentioned caufes. But thefe are 
only private habitations, which, hke 
thofe hy whom they were erected, as yet 
exercife no influence over the public opt- 
nion. 
W’e have now nothing but confolatory 
profpeéts. Great and impertant repairs 
fucceed each other ; and though they do 
not piecifely belong to the periods compre- 
hended within the Queftion of the Go- 
vernment, we cannot forbear a brief no- 
tice of them. 
embourg, is poftertor to 1789. The 
Monaichy had left that beautiru! palace 
in ruins. It appeared to have been erect- 
ed, and to have excited «iniverfal admuira- 
tion, only for the purpofe ef being almott 
immediately abandoned to ajl the caufes 
of deftrudtion. The reftoration of this 
monument was commenced by the Repub- 
lic, and it is continued with increafed 
{plendour, by the talents of the accom- 
plifhed aichite&’ (M. Chalgrin) who re- 
fpects the glory ot Debroffe. . 
~ The Picture, which fhall begin at the 
period where the prefent terminates, will 
“Monrury Mac. No. 125. 
Proceedings of Leatned Sacicties. 
The fir, that of the Lux- 
Sif 
do juftice to the great encouragement 
given to {culpture. How rich will that 
Piéture be, to judge of it by the embel- 
lihments which Paris has received fince 
the year 10! The nobleit of them all 
will be the completion of the Louvre, the 
fecond appeararce of which in fome mea- 
{ure eclipfes the admiration commanded 
by the firft. Is repairs are begus 5 and 
if hope, which follows them with an im- 
patient eye, does not yet perceive great 
refults, it is becanfe it is not the nature of 
any thing ufeful to attraé& notice, and 
becaufe the works which have already 
been executed, have for their object the 
folidity, and not the external embellifh- 
ment, of the edifice. 
The means of encouraging the art, in- 
dicated by the Section of ArchiteSture, 
are, a complete fyftem of infructicn, 
employment, and thofe prizes, which it is 
the duty of enlightened Governments to 
beftow on difiinguifhed talents. The 
flate of architeXural inftru&tion is fuch as- 
to be deplored, did we not know that the 
organization of the Special Schcol of Fine 
Arts is nearly completed. As a confo- 
Iation to thofe by whom this is impatiently 
expected, I have to announce, that archi- 
tecture has acquired a new meéan Of in- 
ftruction, which will foon be placed at its 
dufpofal. | 
The Minifter of the Interior has affign- 
ed a vaft apartment in the Palace of the 
Arts to receive the precious collection of 
the moft beautiful antique architectural 
ornaments, formed with fo much care dy 
our colleague Dufourny, during 2 refi- 
dence of thirteen years in Italy. This 
whigue collection will be devoted to 
fiudy. “ 
From the account which has thus been 
fubmitted to the Clafs, it refults, that 
none of the Fine Arts has degenerated 
fince the year 1789 3 and that they alt 
p G:{fs great means for an{wering the in- 
tentions of the Government. _It likewile 
refults, that the latter poffcfles all the 
means of encouraging them, fince thofe 
means conti! in a kind and continued 
attention, impartial juftice, the affurance 
of freedom to genius, and the diftribution - 
of hineurs moze than of rewards, 
VARIETIES; 
