when we happen to meet with them.

When we are at a lofs, and

know not to what Hand to attribute a Picture, or Drawing it is of use to confider of what Age, and what School it Probably is; This will reduce the Enquiry into a Narrow Compass, and of tentimes lead us to the Master we are seeking for. So that befides the Hiftory of the Particular Mafters, which (as has been feen already) is neceffary to be known by every one that would be Connoiffeurs in Hands; The General Öne of the Art, and the Characters of the feveral Schools is fo too. Of the First I have occafionally given fome few Touches throughout This, and my Former Book ; Of the other U 2

I

I fhall make Light Sketches in the 2d Part of This, referring you for the Whole to the Ac counts at large in the Authors who have profeffedly treated on Thofe Subjects.

He that would be a Good Connoiffeur in Hands must know how to Diftinguish Clearly, and Readily, not only betwixt One thing, and Another, but when two Different things nearly Refemble, for This he will very Often have occafion to do, as 'tis eafy to obferve by what has been faid already. But I fhall have a further occafion to enlarge on this particular,

Laftly, To attain that branch of Science of which I have been treating a Particular Application to That very thing is requifite. A Man may

be

be a Good Painter, and a Good Connoiffeur as to the Merit of a Picture, or Drawing, and may have seen all the Fine ones in the World, and not know any thing of This Matter; "Tis a thing intirely diftinct from all Thefe Qualifications, and requires a Turn of Thought accordingly.

OF

OF

ORIGINALS

AND

COPPIE S.

A

LL that is done in
Picture is done by In-
vention; Or from the
Life; Or from another

Picture; Or Laftly 'tis a Compofition of One, or More of

these.

The

The term Picture I here understand at large as fignifying a Painting, Drawing, Graving, &c. Perhaps nothing that is done is Properly, and Strictly Invention, but derived from fomthing already feen, tho' fomtimes Compounded, and jumbled into Forms which Nature never produced: These Images laid up in our Minds are the Patterns by which we Work when we do what is faid to be done by Invention; juft as when we follow Nature before our eyes, the only difference being that in the Latter cafe these Ideas are fresh taken in, and immediately made ufe of,in the other they have been repofited there, and are less Clear, and Lively.

So