we have hitherto followed in the stu dy of Painting. This is what I propofe by the Effay which I here offer to the publick. I fhall ufe no art, however cuftomary it may be on these occafions, to prepare the judgment, or conciliate the good opinion of my readers: One thing only. it may be neceffary to excufe; I have been forced, in fome measure, to take certain liberties of style, which, though common in other languages, have not yet been received into ours. Thus I have used the MECHANICK, and IDEAL of an art, instead of the mechanick, or ideal part of an art; as likewife CLEARS and OBSCURES, for clear and obfcure colours. I have borrowed the word NuD from the French; SBozzo from the Italian; and and have tranflated the CHIAROSCURO of the latter into the clear obscure. These are little licences, unavoidable, in treating of an art, which has not as yet been thoroughly naturalized; and I even wish, that they may not be overlooked, in the number of lefs excufable defects. CON [1] B. DIALOGUE I. General Plan of the WORK. WH HEN you advanced the other day, in a circle of virtuofo's, that the ancients were, in painting, as in all the other polite arts, equal, if not fuperior, to the moderns; your affertion was received with an univerfal dislike. However different my fentiments were from yours at the time, I was yet perfuaded, that you would not have given into fo fingular an opinion, without having good reasons to fupport it. I mentioned to you then my doubts, and you was fo good as to promise me you would remove them. A. I was not at all furprised at the diffatisfaction you remarked in thofe gentlemen; it is unpleafing to have an opinion brought into doubt, which we have looked upon all our lives as indifputable. You fhall now be a judge of the grounds I had for my affertion. Had we no other object in view, but merely to determine the different merits of the artifts, it would hardly be worth the labour; but, by examining the teftimonies which we fhall draw from the writings of the ancients, and comparing their ideas with the paintings of the moderns, we shall enlarge our conceptions, and improve our knowledge of the art itself. B. THIS profpect which you have opened upon me, gives me a fingular pleasure; for, after having read, with the utmost attention, the feveral authors on this subject, I cannot fay, that I have received from them the inftruction I expected. A. THIS |