OF PAINTING IN ENGLAND; With fome Account of the principal Artists; And incidental NOTES on other ARTS; Collected by the late Mr. GEORGE VERTUE; And now digefted and published from his original MSS. By Mr. HORACE WALPOLE, To which is added The HISTORY of The MODERN TASTE in GARDENING, The Glory of Lebanon shall come unto thee, the Fir-Tree, the Pine-Tree, The THIRD EDITION with ADDITIONS. VOLUME the FOURTH and last. LONDON: PRINTED FOR J. DODSLEY, PALL-MALL. M.DCC.LXXXVI. CHARLES, Duke of RICHMOND, LENOX, and AUBIGNY. MY LORD, IT T is not to court protection to this work; it is not to celebrate your Grace's virtues and abilities, which want no panegyric; it is to indulge the sentiments of refpect and esteem, that I take the liberty of prefixing your name to this volume, the former parts of these Anecdotes having been infcribed to a Lady, now dead, to whom I had great obligations. The publications of my prefs have been appropriated to Gratitude and Friendfhip, not to Flattery. Your Grace's fingular Encouragement of Arts, a virtue inherited with others from your noble Father, intitles you to this Addrefs; and allow me to fay, my Lord, it is a proof of your Judgment and Tafte, that in your countenance of talents there is but one inftance of partiality-I mean, your Favour to THI HIS laft volume has been long written, and even printed. The publication, * though a debt to the purchasers of the preceding volumes, was delayed from motives of tenderness. The author, who could not refolve, like moft biographers, to dispense univerfal panegyric, efpecially on many incompetent artifts, was ftill unwilling to utter even gentle cenfures, which might wound the affections, or offend the prejudices of those related to the perfons whom truth forbad him to commend beyond their merits. He hopes, that as his opinion is no standard, it will pass for mistaken judgment with fuch as shall be displeased with his criticisms. If his encomiums feem too lavish to others, the public will at least know that they are bestowed fincerely. He would not have hefitated to publish his remarks fooner, if he had not been averfe to exaggeration. The work is carried as far as the author intended to go, though he is fenfible he could continue it with more fatisfaction to himself, as *It was not published till O&tober 9, 1780, though printed in 1771, a 3 the |