Natural, or Moral, if Theology, if any of the Liberal Arts, and Sciences are worthy the Notice, and Study of a Gentleman, Painting is fo too. To read the Scripture I know will be allow'd to be an Employment worthy of a Gentleman, because (amongst other Reasons) from hence he learns his Duty to God, his Neighbour, and Himself; he is put in mind of many Great, and Inftructive Events, and his Paffions are warm'd, and agitated, and turn'd into a right Channel; All thefe Noble Ends are anfwer'd, I will not fay as Effectually, but I will repeat it again and again they are Answer'd when we look upon, and confider what the great Masters have done when they have affum'd the Characters of Divines, or Moralists, or have in Their way related any of the Sacred Stories. Is it an Amusement, or an Employment worthy of a Gentleman to read Homer, Homer, Virgil, Milton, &c? the Works of the moft Excellent Painters have the like Beautiful Descriptions, the like Elevation of Thought, and Raise, and Move the Paffions, Inftruct, and Improve the Mind as Thefe do. Is it worthy of a Gentleman to Employ, or Divert Himfelf by reading Thucydides, Livy, Clarendon, &c? the Works of the moft Excellent Painters have the like Beauty of Narration, fill the Mind with Ideas of the like Noble Events, and Inform, Inftruct, and Touch the Soul alike. Is it worthy of a Gentleman to read Horace, Terence, Shakespear, the Tatlers, and Spectators, &c. The Works of the moft Excellent Painters do alfo Thus give us an Image of Humane Life, and fill our Minds with Useful Reflections, as well as Diverting Ideas; all these Ends are anfwer'd, and oftentimes to a greater degree than any other way. To confider confider a Picture aright is to Read, but in Respect of the Beauty with which the Eye is all the while entertain'd, whether of Colours, or Figures, 'tis not only to read a Book, and that finely Printed, and well Bound, but as if a Confort of Mufick were heard at the same time: You have at once an Intellectual, and a Senfual Pleasure. plead for the Art, not its Abufes; 'Tis a Sublime Paffage that in Job; If when I beheld the Sun when it fbined, or the Moon walking in Brightness, and my Heart hath been fecretly entic'd, or my Mouth bath kiffed my Hand, This alfo was an Iniquity to be punish'd by the Judge, for I fhould have deny'd the God that is above. If when I fee a Madonna tho' painted by Rafaelle I be enticed and drawn away to Idolatry; Or if the Subject of a Picture, tho' painted by Annibale Caracci pollutes my Mind with impure Images, and transforms transforms me into a Brute; Or if any other, tho' never fo Excellent, rob me of my Innocence, and Virtue, May my Tongue cleave to the Roof of my Mouth, and my Right Hand forget its Cunning If I am its Advocate as 'tis Inftrumental to fuch Detefted Purposes: But these Abufes excepted (as What Has not been? What Is not Abus'd?) the Praise of Painting is a Subject not unworthy of the Tongue, or Pen of the Greatest Orator, Poet, Hiftorian, Philofopher, or Divine; Any of which when he is confidering the Works of our Great Mafters will not only find him to be one of Themselves, but fometimes All these at once, and in an Eminent Degree. I know I fpeak with Zeal, and an ardent Paffion for the Art, but I am serious, and speak from Conviction, and Experience, and whoever confiders Impartially, and acquaints himself with fuch ad mirable mirable Works of Painters as I have done, will find what I have faid is Solid, and Unexaggerated Truth. The Dignity of the Science I am recommending will farther appear if it be confider'd, that if Gentlemen were Lovers of Painting, and Connoiffeurs, it would be of great Advantage to the Publick, in 1. The Reformation of our Man ners. 2. The Improvement of our People. 3. The Increase of our Wealth, and with all thefe of our Honour, and Power. Anatomifts tell us there are feveral Parts in the Bodies of Animals that serve to several Purposes, Any of which would justify the Wisdom, and Goodness of Providence in the making of them; but that they are Equally Ufeful, and Neceffary to All, and serve the End of Each as effectually as if they were apply'd F to |