than the dreamt of

:

Commentator ever And Perhaps also what are judg'd to be Defects are not fo. The Author, or Artift of what fort foever (if he be a Good one especially) is in more danger of fuffering by the Overfights, Ignorance, Malice, or other Evil Quality of his Commentators than he is likely to Gain by their Penetration, Indulgence, Good Nature, or whatever other Good Quality. Commentators are in a fine Scituation! We, like the poor Mariners with infinite Pains, and Hazards fetch in from all Parts things for Ufe, or Delight, They, like the Mer chant at their Eafe receive all from our hands, and fay This is Well, or That Ill, as their Fancy is. For God's fake Let us have Juftice, if we are not allow'd Indulgence: Let there not be a Draw-back upE

on

on what is Well, and none on what is Amifs Either let Sup pofes, and Peradventures be equally Admitted on Both fides; Or (which is better) Let them be intirely Excluded.

To judge of the Goodness of a Picture, Drawing, or Print, 'tis neceffary to eftablifh to our Selves a Syftem of Rules to be apply'd to that we intend to give a Judgment of; Thefe are no other than those which he that is to give fuch Judg ment wou'd have been directed by had he been to have Made, what now he is to Judge of.

P

And thefe Rules must be our Own; whether as being the refult of our Own Study, and Obfervation, and Drawn up, and Compos'd by Us; Or by fome Other, and Examin'd, and Approv'd by

Us.

Here

Here in Order to make this Difcourfe as compleat as I could I should have been obliged to have given fuch a System, But having done that at large in my Former Effay That Affair is over, 'tis at the Reader's Service, and he may Ule That, or any Other, or One compos'd out of several, with Additions, and Improvements, or without as he thinks fit: However I will here make him an Offer of an Abstract of what I take to be those by which a Painter, or Connoiffeur may fafely conduct himself, referring to the Book it felf for further Satisfaction.

I. The Subject must be finely Imagin'd, and if poffible Improv'd in the Painters Hands; He muft Think well as a Hiftorian, Poet, Philofopher, or Divine, and

moreover as a Painter in making a Wife Use of all the Advantages of his Art, and finding Expedients to supply its Defects.

II. The Expreffion must be Proper to the Subject, and the Characters of the Perfons; It must be ftrong, so that the Dumb-shew may be perfectly Well, and Readily understood. Every Part of the Picture must contribute to This End; Colours, Animals, Draperies, and especially the Actions of the Figures, and above all the Airs of the Heads.

III. There must be One Principal Light, and This, and all the fubordinate ones with the Shaddows, and Reposes,

muft

muft make One, Intire, Harmonious Mafs; The feveral Parts must be well Connected, and Contrafted, fo as that the Tout-enfemble must be Grateful to the Eye; as a good piece of Mufick is to the Ear. By this Means the Picture is not only more Delightful, but better Seen, and Comprehended.

IV. The Drawing must be just; nothing must be Flat, Lame, or Ill-Proportion'd; and these Proportions fhou'd vary according to the Characters of the Perfons drawn.

V. The Colouring whether Gay, or Solid, must be Natural, Beautiful, and Clean, and what the Eye is delighted with, in Shaddows as well

as