512 
their views to the whole fpecies, inftead of 
confining them to the contemplation of 
an individual. 
This limited tafte, and this mean me- 
thod, prevailed in all the fchools of the laft 
century. Towards its conclufion, no 
works of fculpture, comparatively {peak- 
ing, were produced in Europe. In France, 
that art exifted onlv upon the fyftematic 
encouragement of the government. In 
Ttaly, the numerous and increafing difco- 
veries of antique fculpture, gave a mortal 
blow to the progrefs of the art amcng the 
moderns. Pope Pius VI. doting a reign 
of 20 years, recovered about 2000 ancient 
ftatues, but never gave a fingle order to 
a modern artift. The ages which make 
coilefticns are not thofe which furnifh the 
materials for them. The fpirit of collec- 
tion and productive genius have nothing 
in common, except being the very reverfe 
of each other. This was feen at Rome 
twenty-five years ago. 
When I firft arrived there, about that 
period, I enquired for the modern fta- 
tuaries, but was directed to fome reftorers 
of antiques. I wifhed to fee fome work 
of recent production. ‘There was no fuch 
thing. Some time afterwards, I was 
taken to fee a ftatue which an arti exhi- 
bited in his work-fhop. This figure 
attracted notice, and was fpoken of with 
admiration. It was a Flora, with dra- 
pery, and was by the hand of the fculpror 
Caraceppi, who paffed his life in repair- 
ing antiques for the Cardinal Albani, 
under the direction of Winklemann and 
Mengs. Who would not have imagined 
that an artift in conftant intercourfe with 
fuch great men, and fuch exquifite produc- 
tions, muft have transfufed into bis waiks, 
fome traits of the antique? This, how- 
ever, was not the cafe; his Flora was 
nothing but an exaggeration of Bernini’s 
ftyle ; and his execution, equally ridicu- 
lous with his conception, pofleficd only 
the merit of mechanica] labour. 
Till the year 1733, Rome may be faid 
to have had no fculptors. At that period 
there appeared a group in marble, repre- 
fenting Thefeus vanauithing the Mino- 
taur, which was announced as the firft 
effay of M. Canova, a young artift, who 
had formed himielf without any mafter. 
This, however, was a mifake; for M. 
“Canova had already produced feveral 
works, though they were but little known. 
He had actually bad no mafter, but had 
formed himfelf by fome ftudies from na- 
ture, in which he fought only the fimple 
truth of his‘model. This group made 
@ greater impreffion on foreigners than 
Memoir of M. Canova. 
[ Jan. i, 
on the Romans themflves, who were 
{till infeéted with the bad tafie of the la& 
{chool. 
garded as a fiatuary deftined to revive 
good tafte, and to reftore icuipture to its 
grand principles.- 
From that time, Canova was re=. 
I then became acquainted with him; 
and, equally charmed with the excellent 
moral qualities which procure him uni. 
verlal eliteem, and the talents he manifeit- 
ed, I could not forbear withing, that he 
would afpire to and attain that diftingtion, 
which this eflay feemed to premife. 
Our acquaintance was gradually con- 
verted into intimacy; ana my franknefs 
excited his confidence. J] obferved, that 
he was ftill undecided in the choice of the 
ftyle which he ought to adopt. I contri- 
buted, perhaps, to his taking a bolder re- 
folution. Having himfelf acknowledged, 
during his vifit at Paris, laft year, that 
my prognoftics, twenty years ago, weie 
Not unferviceable to him; I think he will 
pardon fome details, which may hurt bis 
modefty. 
T at that time told him, that in conf. 
dering the ftate of modein feulpture, a 
diltinguifhed place appeared to be yet 
vacant ; and that, perhaps, this place was 
deftined for him ; that no ftatuary had yee 
attempted to rival the antique, im the 
manner which I meant; that he fhouid 
look upon himfelf as the pupil of fome of 
thofe great mafters; and feizing their 
{tyle, their tafte, and their principles, aban. 
don entirely all modern fyficms ; fixing 
his eyes only on the ancient : that having 
already acquired a fund of knowledge, a 
facility which enabled him to repeat his 
attempts, a reputation which promifed him 
employment, he cught to afpire to a rank 
which muit leave him without an equal ; 
and if he were only the continuator of 
the antique, even that would be better 
than being the follower of Michac! Angelo 
or Bernini. ; 
This I relate, not to make a merit of 
having given fuch advice, nor to afcribe © 
one to Canova, for having accepted, and 
ftill lefs for having foliowed it. I pretend 
not to judge of his merit, for that can 
fcarcely be done by contemporaries. His 
reputation has now attained’ to fuch a 
pitch, that it would bedifficuit to decide - 
without fome fentiment of partiality. So 
much, at leaft, I think I may fay of 
Canova, that he has enjoyed the advantage 
of arriving at the ftudy of the an:ique, 
without any method previoufly adopted 
or borrowed from any {chool. Whatever 
may be meafure of merit which pofterity 
fhall adjudge him, he muff be vos 
that 
