BY

THE EDITOR.

THE eminent professional Abilities of the late

MR. DAYES, as well as the Strength of his Literary Talents, are already known to the Public: the former, through the numerous Productions of his Pencil exhibited at the ROYAL ACADEMY, or engraved to illustrate the Topographical History of Great Britain in various Publications; the latter, through the Medium of that esteemed Journal, the Philosophical Magazine, in which the ESSAYS ON PAINTING have composed a very distinguished Feature. In offering, therefore, a complete Edition of his WORKs to general Patronage, besides the more immediate Purpose of benefiting his Family, I am actuated by a Hope, that this Publication will prove particularly acceptable at a Period when the ARTS are held in such high Repute, and when TOPOGRAPHICAL INQUIRIES SO particularly accord with the prevailing Taste. The Excursion through Derbyshire and Yorkshire, the Instructions for Drawing and Coloring

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Coloring Landscape, and the Professional Sketches of Modern Artists, are now for the first Time made Public, from the original Manuscripts. The EXCURSION was undertaken in the Autumn of 1803; its principal Object was to contemplate the romantic Character of Dove-Dale; and to inspect, and to make Drawings of the sublime and picturesque Scenery of the NORTH and WEST RIDINGS of YORKSHIRE. The Observations made by MR. DAYES, during his Progress through these enchanting Tracts, were afterwards connected by him with various Historical and Biographical Notices, and the Whole formed into a connected Work but a very short Time previous to his sudden and lamented Decease.

The ESSAYS ON PAINTING have received the Approbation of the most eminent Artists. Under the various Heads of Composition, Taste, Beauty, Grace, Invention, Disposition, Drawing, Manner, Penciling, and Style, they, comprehend the most important Precepts for the Advancement of the Art to a State of Perfection; while the Perspicuity and Depth of Thought by which those Precepts are illustrated, cannot fail to impress the Inquirer

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Inquirer with due Ideas of the Importance of the Study, and of its vast Influence both on the Individual, and on the National Character. Where the Arts are despised, Humanity suffers; and the Principles that regulate the Conduct, become illiberal and mean.

The INSTRUCTIONS FOR LANDSCAPE PAINTING are equally valuable with the Essays. They include complete Directions for Sketching, Coloring, and the proper Management of Light and Shade. The young Artist will find them particularly acceptable; inasmuch as they not only furnish him with the Knowledge of the best Methods of attaining his End, but also develope the Principles on which those Methods are founded. If an Acquaintance with Cause is not an absolute Essential to the Production of Effect, it is at least a very useful Qualification, and renders that Design, which would otherwise be either Habit or Accident. The PROFESSIONAL SKETCHES must be considered as peculiarly interesting, when it is remembered that they contain Anecdotes of all the following Artists, combined with Strictures on the Merits of their chief Productions.

In preparing these Papers for the Press, I have occasionally departed from the previous Arrangement, and made whatever verbal Corrections appeared to be essentially necessary: yet, wherever this has been the Case, the meaning of the original Passages has been strictly attended to; and no further Alterations have been admitted, than what have resulted from a full Consideration of their Propriety. The Marginal Notes to the Essays on Painting, and on Landscape, were added as a Means of Reference, and that the Reader might be enabled to trace the Subjects of the Text with greater Facility. In the Sketches of

Modern

Modern Artists, a few personal Anecdotes have been suppressed, chiefly from the Reflection, that the subject Matter was more particularly Professional than Biographical.

The first Prospectus that was issued, announced only the Excursion into Derbyshire and Yorkshire,' with a 'Description of the Road between London and Dove Dale,' which I had myself intended to prefix, but which I have been induced to omit, from the Conviction, that a complete Edition of the Works of Mr. Dayes will be far more conducive to the Interests of his Widow, than if I had printed the Volume according to the original Design. The Alteration has occa

sioned a small Advance on the Prices that were first proposed; yet no Subscriber will, I trust, feel dissatisfied, when it is understood, that this increase is scarcely adequate to the additional Expense that has been incurred in giving three Engravings, and four or five Sheets of Letterpress, more than was primarily intended.

All the Views, but that of Rippon Minster, have been Engraved from Paintings made by

Mr.