What Grace and Greatness is fpread throughout, and how fuitable to each Character.

Monfieur de Piles has a pretty Invention of a Scale whereby he gives an Idea in short of the Merit of the Painters, I have given fome Account of it in the latter end of my former Effay: This, with a little Alteration and Improvement may be of great use to Lovers of Art, and ConnoifJeurs.

I will keep to the Number 18 to denote the highest Degree of Excellence, and That, and the preceeding one shall stand for the Sublime in those Parts of Painting that are capable of it. 16. 15. 14. 13. fhall denote Excellence in these 4 Degrees, as from 12 to 5 Inclufive fhall fignify the Mediocre: And tho' Bad Pictures are not worth our no

tice, Good ones may be Bad in fome Particulars, I will therefore reserve the other 4 Numbers to exprefs That. Not that the Province of Bad is equal in Extent to that of Excellent, but becaufe Good Masters whofe Works I am only concern'd about very rarely Sink many degrees into Ill; If it fhould fo happen let That be mark'd with a Cypher only.

The ufe to be made of this Scale is this; A little PocketBook might be always ready ready, every leaf of which should be prepar'd as shall be seen prefently, And when one confiders a Picture an Estimate might be made of it by putting fuch Figures under each Head as fhall be judg'd proper; or more than one if in one part of the Picture there be any confiderable difference from what is in Another;

or

or if there be a double confideration requiring it.

I will give a Specimen of what I have been propofing, and the Subject fhall be a Portrait of V. Dyck which I have, 'tis a Halflength of a Countess Dowager of Exeter, as I learn from the Print made of it by Faithorn, and that is almoft all one can learn from That concerning the Picture befides the General Attitude, and Disposition of it.

The Drefs is Black Velvet, and That appearing almost one large Spot, the Lights not being fo managed as to connect it, with the other parts of the Picture; The Face, and Linnen at the Neck, and the two Hands, and broad Cuffs at the Wrifts being by this means three feveral Spots of Light, and that near of an equal degree, and forming al

most an Equilateral Triangle, the Base of which is parallel to that of the Picture, the Compofition is Defective; and this occafion'd chiefly from the want of thofe Lights upon the Black. But fo far as the Head, and almost to the Waft, with the Curtain behind, there is an Admirable Harmony; the Chair also makes a Medium between the Figure, and the Ground. The Eye is deliver'd down into that Dead Black Spot the Drapery with great Eafe, the Neck is cover'd with Linnen, and at the Breast the top of the Stomacher makes a ftreight line. This would have been very harsh, and disagreeable but that 'tis very Artfully broken by the Bowes of a Knot of narrow Ribbon which rise above that Line in fine, well-contrafted Shapes.

This Knot fastens a Jewel on the Breaft, which also helps to produce the Harmony of this part of the Picture, and the white Gloves which the Lady holds in her Left Hand, helps the Compofition fomething as they vary That Light Spot from That which the Other Hand, and Linnen makes.

The Tout-enfemble of the Colouring is Extreamly Beautiful; 'Tis Solemn, but Warm, Mellow, Clean, and Natural; The Flesh, which is exquifitely good, efpecially the Face, the Black Habit, the Linnen and Cushion, the Chair of Crimson Velvet, and the Gold Flower'd Curtain mixt with a little Crimson have an Admirable effect, and would be Perfect were there a Middle Tinct amongst the Black. I 2

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