The Blank is for Landskip, or Animals, or any other Particular in a History, or Portrait that is worthy remarking in an Article by it felf. That at the bottom is for any Memorandum that may be thoughr proper besides what is faid a top where the Picture, Owner, Time feen, &c. may be specify'd. Whoever practices a Regular Way of Confidering a Picture, or Drawing, will, I am confident, find the Benefit of it; And if they will moreover note down the Degrees of Eftimation in This manner 'twill be of further Ufe; 'twill give a Man a more clear, and diftinct Idea of the Thing, 'twill be a further Exercise of his Judgment, a Remembrance of what he has feen, and by confi dering It together with the Pi cture Months, or Years, afterwards he will fee whether his Judgment is alter'd, and where in. And if still any one will give himself the trouble to make a Differtation upon what he thinks worthy of it, fuch a Scale of Merit made upon the place will ferve as fhort Notes to help his Memory if he has not the Picture before him; But the making fuch a Differtation will be a fine Exercife of a Gentleman's Abilities as a Connoiffeur, and may moreover be an agreeable Amufe ment. In fuch Differtation it will not be neceffary for any One to confine himself to the Order in which 'tis beft to Confider the Picture; he may begin at the Invention, if a Hiftory, or at the Face, if à Portrait, Or how he thinks beft. Ånd remark on the Advantage, and Pleasure to be had from it, or Not. Notwithstanding what I have already done I fancy an Example of fuch a Differtation will not be Unacceptable, because it fhall be of a very Capital Picture, and one wherein there is an Inftance of Expreffion which will be Supplemental to the Chapter in my Theory on that Head; 'Tis what I have not mentioned there, for I had not seen one of that kind when I wrote that. The Specimen I am now about to give is part of a Letter (tho' in another Language) written to a Gentleman at Rotterdam, an Excellent Connoiffeur, a Hearty Lover of the Art, and Master of L a a Noble Collection of Pictures, Drawings, and Antiques; and One for whom I have upon Thefe, and many Other Accounts the utmoft Refpect, and Friendfhip that 'tis poffible to have for one whom I have never had the Happiness to See, or Converfe with Otherwife than at this Diftance, Tho' my Son has, and has received particular Marks of his Favour. The Correfpondence we have the honour to have with him is by Me, and my Son Jointly, for Reafons not here neceflary to be given, Only in General I cannot forbear faying that the Vertue, Dutiful Behavi our, Induftry, Learning, Good Senfe, and other Excellent Qualities of my Son, Together with his Tafte, and Judgment, in our Art, which is Equal to a Father's Utmoft |