jK^S'IKU THE LIBRARY OF THE UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA LOS ANGELES '■^ FREDERIC THOMAS BLANCH ARD ENDOWMENT FUND ~7^ A N E S S A O N PAINTING: IN TWO EPISTLES T O MR. R O M N E r. (pClV ElVCii (pC(.VTiy.(TlC( i k Ksyeiv oi yroiViTCii £Xii(n tccvtx sv to: ypcifx(iXTi (TVifxxiVBffX, PhILOSTR ATUS. Patet omnibus Ars, nondum eil occupata, multum ex ilia etiam fu- turis relidum eft. S e n e c. Epift. 33. By WILLIAM H A Y L E Y, Esq, The third EDITION, Corrected and Enlarged, LONDON: PRINTED FOR J. DODSLEY, IN PAL L-M ALL. M.DCC.LXXXI. EPISTLE THE FIRST. B ARGUMENT OF THE FIRST EPISTLE, IfitroduEiion — ll:)e flour ijljing Jl ate of Art in this country — Dif advantages atte?iding the modern Painter of Portraits — Short encomium o?i this branch of Arty with the account of its origin in theflory of the Maid of Corinth — Superiority of Hiflorical Pai?iti?jg — Some account of the Greeks who excelled in it — Its deflru&ion and revival in Italy — Short account of the mofl eminent Italian and Spa?7ifj Painters — Thojc of Flanders and Frajtce — The corruption of Art among the latter. T O T O Mr. GEORGE ROMNEY. EPISTLE I. LEST be the hour, when fav'ring gales reftore The travell'd artift to his native {hore ! His mind enlighten'd, and his fancy fraught With iineft forms by ancient genius wrought ; Whofe magic beauty charm'd, with fpell fublime, 5 The fcythe of Ruin from the hand of Time, And mov'd the mighty leveller to fpare Models of grace fo exquifitely fair. While you, whom Painting thus infpir'd to roam, Bring thefe rich ftores of ripen'd judgment home j 10 While now, attending my accomplifli'd friend, Science and Tafte his foften'd colours blend ; Let the fond Mufe, tho' with a tranfient view. The progrefs of her fifter art purfue ; B 2 Eager [ 4 ] Eager ill tracing from rcmoteft time 15 The ftcps of Painting through each favour'd clime, To prailc her dcarcft fons, whofc daring aim Gain'd their bright Aations on the heights of fiimc. And mark the paths by which her partial hand Condudls her Romney to this radiant band. 20 Painting, fwect Nymph ! now leaves in lifelefs trance Exhaufted Italy, and tinfel France, And fees in Britain, with exulting eyes, Her vot'ries profper, and her glories rife. Yet tho', my friend, thy art is thus careft, 25 And with the hon-^age of the public blef!:, And flourillies with growing beauty fair, The child ot Majefty's adoptive care. The youthfid artift fUll is doom'd to feel ObRrudion's chilling hand, that damps his zeal : 30 Th' imperious voice of Vanity and Pride Bids him Irom Fancy's region turn afide, And quit the magic ot her fcene, to trace Tiie vacant lines of fome unmcanlno; face : r.'cn in this work his willies flill arc crofl, ^r And all the eftorts of his art are loft > io For [ 5 ] For when the canvas, with the mirror's truth, Refleds the perfed form of age or youth, The fond affedions of the partial mind The eye of judgment with delufion blind : 40 Each mother bids him brighter tints employ. And give new fpirit to her booby boy ; Nor can the painter, with his utmofi: art, Exprefs the image in the lover's heart : Unconfcious of the change the feafons bring, 45 Autumnal beauty afks the rofe of fpring. And vain felf-love, in every age the fame, Will fondly urge fome vifionary claim. The lucklefs painter, dcftin'd to fubmit. Mourns the loft likcnefs which he once had hit,. 50 And, doom'd to groundlefs cenfure, bears aiona The grievous load of errors not his own. Nor is it Pride, or Folly's vain command, That only fetters his creative hand ; At Fafliion's nod he copies as they pafs ^S Each quaint refledion from her crowded ghfs. The formal coat, with interfering line, Mars the free graces of his fair defign ; The [ 6 ] The towering cap lie marks with like diftrefs, And all the motley mafs of female drefs. 60 The hoop extended with enormous iize, The corks that like a promontory rife ; The ftays of deadly fteel, in whofe embrace T he tyrant FaHiion tortures injur'd Grace. But Art, dcTpairlng over fhapes like thefe 65 To cafl: an air of elegance and eafe, Invokes kind Fancy's aid — fhe comes to fpread Her magic fpells — the Gothic forms are fled ; And fee, to crown the painter's juft defire, Her free pofitions, and her light attire ! no Th* ambitious artifl: wiflies to piirfue 1 his brilliant plan with more extenflve view, And with adopted charadcr to give A lafting charm to make the portrait live \ All points oi art by one nice effort gain, -r Delight the learned, and content the vain ; Make hiftory to life new value lend *, And in the comprchenfive pidurc blend The ancient hero with the livincr friend * Ver. 7;. See NOT E I. 2 Mofl [ 7 ] Moft fair device ! *' but, ah ! what foes to fenfe, 80 What broods of motley monfters rife from hence !'* The ftrange pretenlions of each age and fex Thefe plans of fancy and of tafte perplex ; For male and female, to themfelves unknown, Demand a charader unlike their own, S^ Till oft the painter to this quaint diftrefs Prefers the awkward fhapes of common drefs. Sweet girls, of mild and peniive foftnefs, choofe The fportive emblems of the comic Mufe ; And fprightly damfels are inclin'd to borrow 90 The garb of penitence, and tears of forrow : While awkward pride, tho' fafe from war's alarms, Round his plump body buckles ancient arms. And, from an honeft juftice of the peace, Starts up at once a demi-god of Greece ; or Too firm of heart by ridicule to fail, The finifli'd hero crowns his country hall, Ordain'd to fill, if fire his glory fpare. The lumber- garret of his wifer heir» ' Not [ 8 ] Not Icfs iibfurd to flatter Nero's eyes * lOO Arofc the portrait of coloflal fize : Tw ice iiftv feet tli enormous fhect was fpread, I'o lift o'er gazing flaves the monftcr's head, When impious Folly fway'd Oppreffion's rod, And fcrvilc Rome ador'd the mimic God. 105 Think not, my friend, with fupcrcilious air, I rank the portrait as beneath thy care. Bleft be the pencil ! which from death can fave -f The femblancc of the virtuous, wife, and brave ; That youth and emulation ftill may gaze, no On thofe infpiring forms ot ancient days. And, from the force of bright examole bold. Rival their worth, '^ and be what they behold." lilell: be the pencil ! whofe confoling pow'r, Soothing foft Friendfliip in her penlive hour, 115 Difpels the cloud, with melancholy fraught, ^J'hat abfjnce throws upon her tender thouo-ht. Ijlcft be the pencil ! wliofc enchantment gives To wounded Love the food on which he lives. • Vcr. 100. Sec NOTE II. t Vcr. io3. See NOTE III. [ 9 ] Rich in this gift, tho' cruel ocean bear 120 The youth to exile from his faithful fair. He in fond dreams hangs o'er her glowing cheek. Still owns her prefent, and ftill hears her fpeak : Oh ! Love, it was thy glory to impart Its infant being to this magic art ! 125 Infpir'd by thee, the foft Corinthian maid, * Her graceful lover's lleeping form portray'd : Her boding heart his near departure knew, Yet long'd to keep his image in her view : Pleas'd {he beheld the fteady fhadow fall, 130 By the clear lamp upon the even wall : The line (he traced with fond precifion true, And, drawing, doated on the form fhe drew : Nor, as fhe glow'd with no forbidden fire, Conceal'd the fimple picture from her fire, 135 His kindred fancy, ftill to nature juft. Copied her line, and form'd the mimic buft. Thus from thy power, infpiring Love, we trace The modeird image, and the pencil'd face ! • Ver. 126. See NOTE IV. We [ 10 ] Wc pity Genius, when by intereft led, 140 His toils but reach the femblance of a head ; Vet arc thofc cenfiircs too fevere and vain, That fcorn the Portrait as the Painter's bane. 'Hio' up the mountain winds the arduous road, That leads to pure Perfection's bright abode, 145 In humbler walks fome tempting laurels grow, Some flowers are gather'd in the vale below : Youth on the plain collects increafing force, To climb the fteep in his meridian courfe. While Nature fees her living models fhare 150 The rifmg artift's unremitting care. She on his mind her every charm imprints. Her eafv pofturcs, and her perfedl tints, Till his quick pencil, in maturer hour, I>ecomes her rival in creative power. jec Yet in thcfc paths difdain a long delay, While eager Genius points a nobler way : For fee ! expanding to thy raptur'd gaze. The epic field a brighter fcene difplays ! Here ftands the temple, where, to merit true, 160 Fame gives her laurel to the favour'd few : Whofe [ " ] Whofe minds, illumin'd with coeleftial fire, Dired the pencil, or awake the lyre ; Who trace the fprings of nature to their fource. And by her guidance, with refiftlefs force, 165 The tides of terror and of tranfport roll. Thro' every channel of the human foul ! How few, my friend, tho' millions boaft the aim. Leave in this temple an unclouded name ! Vain the attempt, in every age and clime, 170 Without the flow condudors toil and time ; Without that fecret, foul-impelling power, Infus'd by genius in the natal hour ; And vain with thefe, if bright occafion's ray Fail to illuminate the doubtful way. 175 The elders of thy art, ordain'd to ftand In the firft circle of this honour'd band, {Whofe pencil, ftriving for the nobleft praife, The heart to foften and the mind to raife, Gave life and manners to the finifh'd piece) 180 Thefe fons of glory were the fons of Greece ! Hail ! throne of genius, hail ! what mighty hand Form'd the bright offspring of this famous land ? C 2 Firft [ 12 ] Firft in the annals of the world they (liine : Such gifts, O Liberty, are only thine; 185 Thy vital fires thro' kindling fpirits run, Thou foul of life, thou intelledual fun ; Thy rays call forth, profufc aad unconnn'd, The richeft produce of the human mind. Firft taught by thee, the Grecian pencil wrought 190 The forceful leffons of exalted thought, And gcneroufly gave, at glory's call, The patriot pidlure to the public hall. 'Twas then Pan^eus drew, with freedom's train,* The chief of Marathon's immortal plain. 195 In glorious triumph o'er the mighty hoft That Pcrfia pour'd in torrents on their coaft. There Polygnotus, fcorning fervile hire, -f Difplav'd the embattled fcene from Homer's lyre. His country vicw'd the gift with fond regard, 200 And rank'd the painter with their noblefl: bard. Thy trngic pencil, Aristides, caught J Each varied feeling, and each tender thought^ ♦ Vcr. 194. See NOTE V. t Ver. 198. See NOTE VI. J Ver. 202. See NOTE VII. While [ 13 ] While moral virtue fanc^ilied thy art, And paffion gave it empire o'er the heart. 205 Corredl Parrhafius firft to rich deficrn * Gave nice proportion, and the melting line, Whofe foft extremes from obfervation fly, And with ideal diftance cheat the eye. The gay, the warm, licentious Zeuxi& drew, f 210 Voluptuous Beauty in her richefl: hue : Bade in one form her fcatter'd rays unite. And charm'd the view with their colleded light. But Grace confign'd, w^hile her fair works he plann'd, Her fofteft pencil to Apelles' hand : 215 Yet oft to gain fublimer heights he ftrov^e, J Such fkrong exprefTion mark'd his mimic Jove, Inimitably great he feem'd to tower, And pafs the limits of the pencil's power. Ye fons of art, tho' on the gulph of years, 220 No floating relic of your toil appears, Yet glory fliews, in ev'ery cultur'd clime. Your names flill radiant thro' the clouds of time. * Ver. 206. See NOTE VIII. t Vcr. 210. See NOTE IX, t Ver. 216. See NOTE X.. Thy [ '4 ] Thy pride, O Romr, inclined thcc to abhor Each work that called thee from thy fphere of war : 225 By Freedom train'd, and favoured by the Nine, 'J he powers of eloquence and verfe were thine, While chilling damps upon the pencil hung,* Where Tully thundered, and where Virgil fung, ^'ct Grecian artifts had the fplendid fate, 230 To triumph o'er the Romans' fcornful hate. Their matchlefs works Profulion toil'd to buy. Their wonders glitter'd in the public eye. Till Rome's terrific pomp, and letter'd pride. Were funk in Defolation's whelming tide. 235 Oh ! lovely Painting ! long thy cheering light Was lofl: and buried in barbaric night; The furious rage of Anarchy effac'd Each hallow'd charader thy hand had trac'd. And Ign'rancc, mutt'ring in her monkilTi cell, 240 Bound thy free foul in her lethargic fpell. At length from this long trance thy fpirit rofe, In that fweet vale where filvcr Arno flows ; Ver. 22S. Sec NOTE XI. There C 15 ] There fludious Vinci treafur'd every rule,* To form the bads of a riling fchool : 245 Like early Hesiod, 'twas his fate to fliine, The herald of a mafter more divine. Inflam'd by Genius with fublimeft rage, By toil unwearied, and unchill'd by age. In the fine phrenzy of exalted thought 250 Gigantic Angelo his wonders wrought ; f V^nd high, by native ftrength of fpirit rais'd, The mighty Homer of the pencil blaz'd. Tafte, Fancy, Judgment, all on Raphael fmil'd, J Of Grandeur and of Grace the darling child : 255 Truth, paffion, charadler, his conftant aim, Both in the human and the heavenly frame, ^ Th' enchanting painter rules the willing heart. And fhines the finifh'd Virgil of his art. The daring Julio, tho' by Raphael train'd, § 260 Reach'd not the fummit, where his mafter reian'd ; * Ver. 244. See NOTE XII. t Ver. 251. See NOTE Xill. t Ver. 254. See NOTE XIV. ^ Ver. 260. See NOTE XV,. Yet I 16 ] Yet to no common heights of epic fame, True Genius guided his adventurous aim. Thus Stat J us, fraught with emulous regard, Caught not the fpirit of the Mantuan bard ; 265 Iho' rival ardour his ambition fir'd. And kindred talents his bold verfe infpir'd. More richly warm, the glowing Titian knew* To blend with Nature's truth the living hue : O ! had fublime defign his colours crown'd ! 27# Then had the world a finifli'd painter found : \A'ith pov/ers lb fcize the higheft branch of art, He fix'd too fondly on an humbler part ; Yet this low objed of his partial care ^rew from his toil fo exquifitely fair, 275 That dazzled judgment, with fufpended voice. Fears to condemn the error of his choice. Thus pleafed a flowery valley to explore Whence never Poet culPd a wreath before, -f- Lucretius chofe the epic crown to lofe 280 For the bright rhaplets of an humbler mufe. • Ver. 268. See NOTE XVI. •f- Unde prius niilli velnrunt Te:: pora Mufae. Lucretius, Lib. iv. Ver. 5. Soft . [ 17 ] Soft as Catullus, fweet Corregio play'd * With all the magic charms of light and {hade. Tho' Parma claim it for her rival fon^ -f- The praife of fweeteft grace thy pencil won : 285 Unhappy genius ! tho' of fkill divine, Unjuft iiegle<^, and penury were thine. Lamenting o'er thy labours unrepaid, Afflided Art oppreft with wrongs decay'd. Till with pure judgment the Caracci came, $ 290 And raifing her weak powers and finking frame, Reclaim'd the pencil of mifguided youth, From Affedlation's glare to tints of modeft Truth. They form'd the Pencil, to whofe infant fame Young Zampieri ow'd his nobler name : § 295,, Profoundly (kill'd his figures to difpofe. The learned Lanfranc in their fchool arofe, || And, trained to glory, by their forming care, The tender Guido caught his graceful air. fjj * Ver. 282. Se€ NOTE XVII. t V^r. 284. See NOTE XVIII. J Ver. 290. See NOTE XIX. § Ver. 295. See NOTE XX. '" '"■ II Ver. 297. See NOTE XXI. ^ f Ver. 299. See NOTE XXII. D Nor [ 18 ] Nor fiiall ye fail your well-earn'd praife to gain^ 300 Ye ! who adorn'd with art your native Spain I The unfrequented (hore, that gave you birth, Tempts not the fiithful Mufe to hide your worth : Juft to all regions, let her voice proclaim Titian's mute fcholar, rival of his fame.* 305 The power, that Nature to his lips denied, Indulgent Art, with fonder care, fupplied :. The cruel bar his happy genius broke ; Tho' dumb the painter, all his pictures fpoke. And thou, Velasquez, fhare the honour due f 310 To forceful tints, that fafcinate the view ! Thy bold illufive talents foarM fo high. They mock'd, with mimic life, the cheated eye. Thou liberal artift ! 'twas thy praife to guide Thy happy fcholar with parental pride ; 3' 5 Thy care the foft, the rich Murillo form'd, X And as thy precept taught, thy friendfhip warm'd. * Ver. 305. See NOTE XXIII. t Ver. 310. See NOTE XXIV. t Ver. 316. See NOTE XXV. Yet [ ^9 J Yet other names, and not a fcanty band ! Have added luftre to th' Ibsrian land ; But, generous Italy, thy genial earth 320 Superior numbers bore of fplendid worth ! And rais'd amidft them, in thy golden days, No mean hiftorian to record their praife, * On Thee, whom Art, thy patronefs and pride. Taught both the pencil and the pen to guide ; 325 Whofe generous zeal and modeft truth have known To blazon others' fkill, not boaft thy own ; On thee, Vasari, let my verfe beftow That juft applaufe, fo freely feen to flow From thy ingenuous heart and liberal hand, 330 To each great artift of thy native land ! Tho' many fhine in thy elaborate page, And more have rifen fince thy diflant age, Their various talents, and their different fame, The Mufe, unfkilful, muft decline to name, 335 Leafl in the nice attempt her judgment fail, To poife their merits in Precifion's fcale. * Vcr. 323. See NOTE XXVL D 2 E'en [ 19 ] E'en public Tafte, by no determin'cl rule, Has cbfs'd the merit of each nobler fchool : To Rome and Florence, in Expreffion ftrong, 340 The higheft honours of Defign belong ; On her pure Style fee mild Bologna claim * Her faireft right to fecondary fame j Tho' prouder Venice would ufurp that praife, Upon the fplendid force of Titian's golden rays, f S^S But ill they know the value of their art, Who, flattering the eye, negledl the heart. Tho' matchlefs tints a lading name fecure, Tho' ftrong the magic of the clear- obfcure, Thefe muft fubmit, as a dependant part, 350 To pure Defign, the very foul of Art; Or Fame, mifguided, mufl: invert her courfe, And Raphael's Grace muft yield to Rembrandt's Force; J Fancy's bold thought to Labour's patient touch, And Rome's exalted genius to the Dutch. 355 ♦ Ver. 342. See NOTE XXVII. t Ver. 345. See NOTE XXVIII. J Ver. 353. See NOTE XXIX. Yet, [ 20 ] Yet, Holland, thy unwearied labours raife * A perfed title to peculiar praife : Thy hum'rous pencil fhuns the epic field, The blazing falchion, and the fanguine fhield ; But hap'ly marks the group of rural Mirth, 360 In focial circle round the chearful hearth, And ruftic Joy, from bufy cares releas'd, To the gay gambols of the village feaft : While Nature fmiles her very faults to view, Trac'd with a fkill fo exquifitely true. 365 Thefe faults, O Rembrandt, 'twas thy praife to hide ! New pow'rs of Art thy fertile mind fupplied ; With dazzling force thy gorgeous colouring glows. And o'er each fcene an air of grandeur throws : The meanefl: Figures dignity afTume, 370 From thy contrafted light, and magic gloom, Thefe ftrong illufions are fupremely thine, And laugh at Imitation's vague defign : So near to blemifhes thy beauties run, Thofe who aifed thy fplendor are undone : 375 * Ver, S56. See NOTE XXX. While [22 ] While thy rafh rivals, loofc and incorrect, Mifcall their fliadowy want of truth Effe&y And into paths of affedation ftart : Neglcdl of Nature is the bane of Art. Proud of the praife bv Rubrns' pencil won, * 380 Let Flanders boafl: her bold inventive fon ! Whofe glowing hues magnificently fhine With warmth congenial to his rich defign : And him, her fecond pride, whofe milder care, From living Beauty caught its lovelieft air ! 385 Who truth of charader with grace combin'd, And in the fpeaking feature mark'd the mind. Her foft Vandyke, while graceful portraits pleafe, -f- Shall reign the model of unrivall'd eafe. Painting fhall tell, with many a grateful thought, 390 From Flanders firft the fecret pow'r fhe caught, % To grace and guard the offspring of her toil, With all the virtues of enduring oil ; * Ver. 380. See NOTE XXXL t Ver. 3S8. See NOTE XXXII. t Ver. 391. See NOTE XXXIII. 9 Tho' [ 23 ] Tho' charm'd by Italy's alluring views, (where fumptuous Leo courted every Mufe, * 39^ And lovely Science grev7 the public care) She fixt the glories of her empire there ; There in her zenith foon fhe ceas'd to fhine, And dated, paffing her meridian line. From the Caracci's death her period of decline. 400 Yet in her gloomy and difgraceful hdur Of faded beauty, and enfeebled power. With talents flowing in free Nature's courfe, With juft exertion of unborrow'd force, Untrodden paths of art Salvator tried, f 405 And daring Fancy was his favourite guide. O'er his wild rocks, at her command, he throws A favage grandeur, and fublime repofe y Or gives th' hiftoric fcene a charm as ftrong As the terrific gloom of Dante's fong. 410 His bold ideas, unrefin'd by tafte, Exprefs'd w4th vigour, tho' conceiv'd in hafte, * Ver. 395. See NOTE XXXIV. t Ver. 405. See NOTE XXXV, Before C 2+ ] Before flow judgment their defeats can dndy With awful pleafure fill the pallivc mind. Nor could one art, with various beauty fraught, 415 Engrofs the ardor of his adive thought : His pencil paufing, with fatiric fire He ftruck the chords of the congenial lyre ; By generous verfc attempting to reclaim The meaner artift from each abjedt aim. 420 But vain his fatire ! his example vain ! Degraded Painting finks, with many a flain : Her clouded beams, from Italy withdrawn. On colder France with tranfient luftre dawn. There, in the arms of Roman Science nurs'd, 42.r In every work of ancient genius vers'd, The fage Poussin, with pureft fancy fraught,* Portray'd the claflic fcene, as Learning taught : But Nature, jealous of her facred right, And piqu'd that his idolatry fliould flight 430 Her glowing graces, and her living air, To worfliip marble with a fonder care, •Vcr. 427. See NOTE XXXV J. 5 Denied C 25 ] Denied his pencil, in its mimic ftrife, The bloom of beauty, and the warmth of life. Then rofe Le Brun, his fcholar, and his friend, * 435 More juftly fkill'd the vivid tints to blend; Tho' with exalted fpirit he prefent The generous vidor in the fuppliant tent, Too oft the genius of his gaudy clime Mifled his pencil from the pure fublime. 440 Thy dawn, Le Sueur, announced a happier tafte, f With fancy glowing, and with judgment chafte : But Art, who gloried in thy rifing bloom, Shed fruitlefs tears upon thy early tomb. Thefe lights withdrawn, Confuiion and Mifrule 445 Seize the vain pencil of the Gallic fchool : Tho' Fresnoy teaches, in Horatian fong, J The laws and limits that to Art belong ; In vain he drives, with Attic judgment chafte, To crufh the monfters of corrupted tafte : 450 * Ver. 435. See NOTE XXXVII. t Ver. 441. See NOTE XXXVIII. J Ver. 447. See NOTE XXXIX. E With [ 26 ] With incffedual fire the poet fings, Prdlific ftill the wounded Hydra fprings : Gods roird on gods encumber every hall, And faints, convuHive, o'er the chapel Iprawl. Rombafl is Grandeur, Afledation Grace, 455 Beauty's foft fmile is turn'd to pert grimace ; Loaded with drefs, fupremely fine advance Old Homer's heroes, with the airs of France. Indignant Art difclaim'd the motley crew, Rcfign'd their empire, and to Britain flew. 460 END OF THE FIRST EPISTLE, EPISTLE EPISTLE THE SECOND. E 2 ARGUMENT OF THE SECOND EPISTLE. 7^^ rife of Pai?iting i?i Engla?idy and the reafons for its happening fo late — The rapidity of its improvement — A fight Jketch of the mof eminent living Artifts in England, The author s wif) to fee his friend among the frf of that number — His reafons for hoping it. The reputa- tion of a Painter in fome degree owijtg to a happy choice of fuhjeSis — A few recommended from national events — and from Milton and Shakefpeare •— Conclufon — Author s ivijbes for his friend's fuccefs. EPISTLE EPISTLE IL INGENUOUS ROMNEY, whom thy merits raife To the pure fummits of unclouded praife ; Whom Art has chofen, with fuccefsful hand, To fpread her empire o'er this honoured land ; Thy Progrefs Friendfhip with delight furveys, 5 And this pure Homage to thy Goddefs pays. Hail ! heavenly Vifitant ! whofe cheering powers E'en to the happy give ftill happier Hours ! O ! next to Freedom, and the Mufe, deiign'd To raife, ennoble, and adorn mankind ! 10 At length we view thee in this favor'd lile, That greets thy Prefence, and deferves thy Smile : This favor'd Ifle, in native Freedom bold, And rich in Spirit as thy Greeks of old. Tho' foreign Theorifts, with Syftem blind, * 15 Prefcribe falfe limits to the Britifli mind, ♦ Ycr. 15. See NOTE XL. . And, [ 30 ] And, warp'd by Vanity, prcfumc to hold. Our northern Genius dark, confin'd, and cold : Painting, fweet Nymph, unconfcious of their chain, In this fair Ifland forms her new Domain, 20 And freely gives to Britain's eager view Thofc charms which once her fav'rite Athens knew. 'Tis true, when Painting, on Italians fliore, Difplay'd thofe Graces, which all Realms adore, No kindred forms of Englifh growth appear ; 25 Age after age the haplefs Pencil here Dropt unfuccefsful from the Native's hand, And fail'd to decorate this darker Land. But freely let impartial Hiftory fay, Why Art on Britain flione with later ray. 30 When on this Ifle, the Gothic clouds withdrawn, The diftant light of Painting feem'd to dawn, Fierce Harry rciga'd, who, foon with pleafure cloy'd, * Now lov'd, now fcorn'd, now worfhip'd, now deftroy'd. Thee as his Wives, enchanting Art ! he priz'd, 35 Now fought to crown thee, now thy death devis'd : * Ver. ^^. See NOTE XLI. Now [ 3r ] Now flrove to fix, with liberal fupport, Thy darling Raphael in his fumptuous Court; Now o'er the hallow'd (hrines, thy hand had grac'd, *' Cried havock, and let flip the Dogs of Waite." 40 When timid Art faw ruin his delight, She fled in terror from the Tyrant's fight. The Virgin Queen, whom dazzled eyes admire,. The fubtle Child of this imperious Sire, Untaught the moral force of Art to feel, * 45 Profcrib'd it as the flave of bigot Zeal, Or doom'd it, throwing nobler works afide, To drudge in flatt'ring her fantaftic Pride : And hence the Epic pencil in the fhade Of blank negled, and cold obftruclion laid, 50 E'en while the Fairy-fprite, and Mufe of fire, Hung high in Glory's hall the Englifli lyre. James, both for Empire and for Arts unfit, (His fenfe a quibble, and a pun his wit) Whatever works he patroniz'd dcbas'd, ^^ But haply left the Pencil undifgrac'd. * Ver. 45. See NOTE XLII. 3 With C 32 ] With fairer mind arofc his nobler Son, Seduc'd by Parafites, by Priefts undone : Unhappy Charles ! oh ! had thy feeling heart But honour'd Freedom as it valued Art 1 6o To merit juft, thy bounty flovvM alike On bolder Rubens, and the foft Vandyke : To this ennobled realm thy judgment brought The facred miracles that Raphael wrought. But regal Pride, with vain Ambition blind, 65 Cut off the promife of thy cultured mind. By wounded Liberty's convulfive hand Unbound, fierce Anarchy ufurps the Land ; While trembling Art to foreign regions flies, To feek a refuge in ferener fkies. 70 Thefe ftorms fubfiding, fee her once again, Returnino; in the fecond Charles's train ! She comes to copy, in licentious fport. The Minions of a loofe luxurious Court ; From whence the modeft Graces turn their eyes, 75 Where Genius fees, and o'er the profped fighs, Lely's foft tints, and Dryden's nobler Lyre, Made the mean Slaves of diflblute Defire. Once [ 33 ] Once more, alanii'd by War's terrific roar, The fweet Enchantrefs quits the troubled fhore ; 80 "While facred Freedom, darting in difdain Her vengeful Thunder on th' apoftate Train, And, pleas'd the gloomy Tyrant to difovvn, Gives to Nassau the abdicated Throne. The peaceful Prince may rifing Art defend, Bs And Art fhall crown her Patron and her Friend. In tumults, from the cradle to the grave, 'Tis thine, O ! William, finking realms to fave. To thee no leifure mightier cares allow, To bind the laurel on the Artift's brow : oq 'Tis thine to fix, with tutelary hand, The Bafe of Freedom, on which Art muft ftand. Yet to thy Palace Kneller's fkill fupplied * Its richeft ornament in Beauty's pride. Unhappy Kneller ! covetous though vain ; 95 Thee Glory yielded to feducing Gain : While partial Tafte from modeft Riley turn'd, f By diffidence depriv'd of praife well earn'd. » Ver. 93. See NOTE XLIII. t Ver. 97. See NOTE XLIV. F The [ 34 ] Tho' 'n fucceeding years the Mufes tauglit, '' Hcv, Ann commanded, and howMARLBRo' fought y' lOo And Thornhill's blaze of Allegory gilt* The piles, that Wren's fupcrior genius built j Contending Fadions, in her clofing reign. Like winds imprifon'd, fliook fair Freedom's Fane. Painting, foft timid Nymph, ftill chofe to roam, 105 And fcar'd to fettle in this fliaking Dome. At length, the fury of each ftorm o'erblown, That thrcaten'd Brunswick's race on Britain's throne,. Rebellion vanquifh'd on her native fhore, Her clans extinguifh'd, and her chiefs no more : no The youthful Noble, on a princely Plan, -f Encourag'd infant Art, and firfl began Before the ftudious eye of Youth to place The ancient Models of ideal Grace. When Britain triumph'd, thro' her wide domain, 115 O'er France, fupported by imperious Spain, And, fated with her Laurels' large increafe, Began to cultivate the plants of Peace ; • Ver. loi. See NOTE XLV. t Ver. III. See NOTE XLVL Fixt r 35 ] Fixt by kind Majefty's protedling hand, Painting, no more an alien in our land, 123 Firfl: fmil'd to fee, on this propitious ground, Her Temples open'd, and her altars crown'd : And Grace, the firfl: attendant of her train, She, whom Apelles wooed, nor wooed in vain, To Reynolds gives her undulating line, 125 And Judgment doats upon his chaflie defio-n. Tho' Envy whifpers in the ear of Spleen, What thoughts are borrow'd in his perfedl fcene, With glee fhe marks them on her canker'd fcroll, Malicious Fiend! 'twas thus that Virgil fl:oIe, 130 To the bright Image gave a brighter Glofs, Or turn'd to purefl: Gold the foreign Drofs. Excelling Artifl: ! long delight the eye ! Teach but thy tranfient tints no more to ily, ^ Britain fhall then her own Apelles fee, 135 And all the Grecian fhall revive in thee. Thy manly fpirit glories to impart The leading Principles of lib'ral Art ; t * Ver. 134. See NOTE XLVII. t Ver. 138. See NOTE XLVIII, F 2 To [ 36 ] To youthful Genius points what courfe to run, What Lights to follow, and what Rocks to fhun : 140 So Orpheus taught, by Learning's heavenly fway, To darino- Arcronauts their doubtful way, And mark'd, to guide them in their bold Career, Th' unerring Glories of the flarry Sphere. Thy Hand enforces what thy Precept taught, 145 And gives new leflbns of exalted thought ; Thy nervous Pencil on the canvafs throws The tragic ftory of fublimeft woes : The wretched Sons, whom Grief and Famine tear, The Parent petrified with blank Dcfpair, 150 Thy Ugolino gives the heart to thrill, * With Pity's tender throbs, and Horror's icy chilL The offspring now of many a rival hand. Sublimity and Grace adorn the Land ; Tho' but fome few years part, this barren eoafk 155 Scarce one fair o-rain of native Art could boaft. of various form, where'er we turn our eyes. With, ftrong and rapid growth new wonders rife,. « Vcr. 151. See NOTE XLIX. Lil ce C 37 ] Like feeds that Mariners, with generous toil. Have wifely carried to fome kindred foil, i6o Which, fhooting quick and vig'rous in their birth, Speak the fond bounty of the virgin Earth : The Land o'erjoy'd a fairer fruit to fee Adopts, with glad furprize, the alien Tree. Now Art exults, with annual Triumphs gay, * 165 And Britain glories in her rich difplay ; Merit, who unaffifted, and unknown, Late o'er his unfeen labours figh'd alone, Sees honour now his happier toils attend. And in the generous Public finds a friend. • 170 O lovely Painting, to whofe charms I bow, '' And breathe my willing verfe with fuppliant vow," Forgive me, if by undifcerning Praife, Or groundlefs Cenfure, v/hich falfe Judgment fv/ays. My failing line with faint refemblance wrong 175 Thy Sons, the fubjed: of no envious fong ! Supremely fkill'd the varied group to place. And range the crowded fcene with eafy grace ; * Ver. 165, See NOTE L. To C 38 1 To fiiiilh parts, } ct not impair the whole, But on th' impaflion'd adion fix the foul ; 180 Thro* wandering throngs the patriot Chief to guide, The Hiame of Carthage, a$ of Rome the pride ; Or, while the bleeding Vidor yields his breath. Give the bright Icffbn of heroic Death. Such are thy Merits, West : by Virtue's hand 185 Built on the human heart thy praife fhall ftand. While dear to Glory, in her guardian Fane, The names of Regulus and Wolfe remain. With kindred power a rival hand fucceeds, For whofejuft fame expiring Chatham pleads^ 190 Like Chatham's language, luminous and bold. Thy colours, Copley, the dread fcene unfold, Where that prime Spirit, by whofe guidance hurl'd, Britain's avenging thunder aw'd the world, In patriot cares employ'd his parting breath, 195 Struck in his field of civic fame by Death ; And Freedom, happy in the tribute paid By Art and Genius to fo dear a Shade, Shall own, the meafure of thy praife to fill, The aweful fubjed equall'd by thy fkill. 200 9 '^^ C 39 } To Dance's pencil, in Preciiion ftrong, Tranfcendent Force, and Truth of Line belong. Not Garrick's felf, to Shakespeare's fpirit true, Difplay'd that fpirit clearer to cur view, Than Dance expreffes, in its fierceft flame, 205 The Poet's Genius in the Ador's Frame. From Garrick's features, with diftradion fraught, He copies every trace of troubled thought ; And paints, while back the waves of Battle roll. The Storm of fanguinary Richard's foul. 210 The rapid Mortimer, of Spirit wild. Imagination's dear and daring Child, Marks the fierce Ruffian, in the Dungeon's gloom, Stung with remorfe, and fhudd'ring at his doom» Yet ftill to nobler heights his Genius fprings, 215 And paints a leflbn to tyrannic Kings : In his bright colours fee the field appear To Freedom facred^ and to Glory dear. Where John, proud Monarch, baffled on his throne, Hears the brave Chief his lawlefs pow'r difown, 220 And, for an injur'd Nation, nobly claim The glorious Charter of immortal Fame ! But [ 40 ] But fee far oft" the modefl Wright retire ! Alone lie rules his Element of Fire ; Like Meteors darting through the gloom of Night, 225 His fparkles flafh upon the dazzled fight ; Our eyes with momentary anguifli fmart. And Nature trembles at the power of Art. May thy bold colours, claiming endlefs praife, For ages lliine with undiminifli'd blaze, 230 And when the fierce Vesuvio burns no more. May his red deluge down thy canvafs pour ! Art with no common gifts her Gainsb'rough graced. Two different Pencils in his hand {he plac'd ; This {hall command, fhe faid, with certain aim, 235 A perfedl Semblance of the human Frame ; This, lightly fporting on the village-green, Paint the wild beauties of the rural Scene. In Storms fublime the daring Wilson foar^, And on the blafled Oak his mimic Lightning pours : 240 Apollo triumphs in his flaming {kies, And claflic Beauties in his fcencs arifc. Thy Graces, Humphreys, and thy Colours clear, From Miniature's fmall circle diiappcar ; ' 10 May C 41 ] May their diftinguifli'd Merit ftill prevail, 245 And fliine with liiftre on the laro-er Scale. Let candid Juftice our attention lead, To the foft Crayon of the graceful Read : Nor, Gard'ner, fhall the Mufe, in hafte, forget Thy Tafte and Eafe ; tho' Vv^ith a fond Regret 250 She pays, while here the Crayon's pow'r fhe notes, A Sigh of Homage to the Shade of Coates. Nor, if her favoured hand may hope to flied The flowers of glory o'er the fkillful dead, Thy Talents, Hogarth ! will fhe leave unfung ; * 255 Charm of all eyes, and Theme of every tongue ! A feparate province 'twas thy praife to rule ; Self-form'd thy Pencil ! yet thy works a School, Where ftrongly painted, in gradations nice, The Pomp of Folly, and the Shame of Vice, 260 Reach'd thro' the laughing Eye the mended Mind, And moral Humour foortive Art refin'd. While fleeting Manners, as minutely fliewn As the clear profpedl on the mirror thrown ; * Ver. 255. See NOTE LI. G While [ +2 J while Truth of Charadlcr, exadlly hit, 2-65 And drcft in all the dyes of comic wit ; While thcfc, in Fielding's page, dcliglit fupply, So long thy Pencil with his Pen fliall vie. Science with grief beheld thy drooping age Fall the fad vidim of a Poet's rage : 270* But Wit's vindictive fpleen, that mocks controul, Nature's high tax on luxury of foul ! This, both in Bards and Painters, Fame forgives ;; Their Frailty's buried, but their Genius lives. Still many a Painter, not of humble Name,. 275 Appears the tribute of applaufe to claim ;. Some alien Artifts, more of Engllfh Race,, W^ith fair Angelica our foreign Grace, Who paints, with Energy and Softnefs join'd,. The fond Emotions of the female Mind ; 2^0 And CiPRi7\Ni, whom the Loves fnrround,. And fportive Nymphs in Beauty's Geftus bound ;. For him thofe Nymphs their every Charm difplay, For him coy Venus throws her veil away ; And Zaffani, whofe faithful colours give 285 The tranfient glories of the Stage to live ; On C 43 3 On his bright canvafs each dramatic Mufe . A perfed: copy of her fceiie reviews ; Each, while thofe fcenes her loft delight reftore, Almoft Targets her Garrick is no more. — 290 O'er thefe I pafs reludant, leaft too long The Mufe diffufejy fpin a tedious Song. Yet one fhort paufe, ye Pow'rs of Verfe, allow To cull a Myrtle Leaf for Meyers's Brow 1 Tho' fmall its Field, thy Pencil may prefurae 295 To afk a Wreath where Flowers immortal bloom. As Nature'^ felf, in all her pictures fair, Colours her Infed: works with niceft care, Nor better forms, to pleafe the curious eye^ The fpotted Leopard than the gilded Fly ; 3D0 So thy fine Pencil, in its narrow fpace, Pours the full portion of uninjur'd Grace, And Portraits, true to Nature's larger line, Boaft not an Air more exquifite than thine. Soft Beauty's charms thy happieft works exprefs, 305 Beauty thy model and thy Patronefs. For her thy care has to perfedlion brought Th' uncertain toil, with anxious trouble fraught; G 2 Thy [ 44- ] Thy coloured Chryftal, at her fond uefire. Draws dcathltls Luftrc froin the dangerous Fire, jia And, pleas'd to gaze on its immortal charm-, She binds thy Bracelet on her inowy arm. While Admiration views, with raptur'd eye, Thefe Lights oi' Art that gild the Britiili iky ; Oh ! may my Friend arife, with liiftre clear, 3,15. And add new Glory to this radiant Sphere. This wifh, my Romney, from the piirell fource. Has Realon's Warrant, joined to Friendfliip's Force. For Genius breath'd into thv infant Frame The vital Spirit of his facied Flame, 3:2.0. Which frequent mifts of Diffidence o'ercloud, Provingr the vi'xor of the Sun they fliroud^ Nature in thee her every cite combin'd. Which forms the Artift of the nobleft kind ;. That fond Ambition, which beftows on Art 325 F^ach talent of the Mind, and pafTion of the Heart ;, That dauntlefs Patience, w^hich all toil defies. Nor leels the laboLir while it views the prize.. Enlightening Study, with maturing pow'r, From thefe fair feeds has call'd the op'ning flowV ; 330 Thy r 45 ] Thy jiift, tliy graceful Portraits charm the view. With every tender tint that Titian knew. Round Fancy's, circle when thy Pencil flies, With what terrific pomp thy Spedlres rife ! What luft of mifchlef marks thy Witch's form, 335* While on the Lapland Rock fhe fwells the ftorm !• Tho' led by Fancy thro' her boundlefs reign, Weil doft thou know to quit her wild domain. When Hiftory bids thee paint, feverely chafte, Her Ampler fcene, with uncorrupted tafte. 340 While in thefe fields thy judging eyes explore, W^hat fpot untried may yield its fecret ore, Thy happy Genius fpiings a virgin Mine Of copious, pure, original Defign ;: Truth gives it value, and, diftindly bold, 345 The ftamp of Charader compleats thy Gold. Thy Figures rife in Beauty's noblefl: fcale,. Sublimely telling their heroic Tak. Still may thy Powers in full exertion blaze^ And Time revere them with unrivall'd praife ! 350 May Art, in honour of a Son like thee, So juftly daring, with a foul fo free,. J Each [ 46 ] Each feparatc IVovincc to thy care commend, And all her Glories in thy Pencil blend ! May tender Titian's mellow Sofcnefs join, 355 With mio;htv Angelo's fublimer Line : CoRREGio*s Grace with Raphael's Tafte unite, And in thy perfed: Works inchant the ravifh'd Sight ! How oft we find that when, with nobleft aim, The glowing Artift gains the heights of Fame, 360 To the well-chofen Theme he chiefly owes. That praife which Judgment with delight beftows. The Lyre and Pencil both this Truth confefs, The happy Subjedl forms their full fuccefs. Hard is the Painter's fate, when, wifely taught 365 To trace with eafe the deepeft lines of thought, By haplefs Fortune he is doom'd to rove Thro' all the froHcks of licentious Jove, That fome dark Philip, phlegmatic, and cold,* (Whofe needy Titian calls for ill-paid gold) 37.0 May with voluptuous Images enflame The iated PafTions of his languid frame. ♦ Ver. 369. See NOTE LII. Abufc C 47 ] Abufe like this awakens generous Pain, And juft Derifion mingles with Difdain, When fuch a Pencil, in a Roman hand, 375 While the rich Abbefs iffues her command, Makes v/ild St. Francis on the canvafs fprawl, That fome warm Nun in mimic Trance may fall, Or, fondly gazing on the pious whim, Feel faintly Love o'erload each lazy limb, 380 Miftaking, in the Cloifter's dull embrace. The Cry of Nature for the Call of Grace. But fee th' hiftoric Mufe before thee ftand, Her nobler fubjeds court thy happier Hand ! Her Forms of reverend Age, of graceful Youth, 385 Of public Virtue, and of private Truth ; The facred power of injur'd Beauty's charms, And Freedom, fierce in adamantine Arms , Whence Sympathy, thro' thy affifling art. With floods of Joy may fill the human heart. 390 But while the bounds of Hift'ry you explore, And bring new Treafures from her fartheft fliore, Thro' all her various fields, tho' large and wide, Still make Simplicity thy conftant guide : 9; And [ 43 ] And mofr, my Friend, a Syren's wiles beware, 395 Ah ! fhan infiJious Allegory's fnare ! llo^ Flattery offers an alluring wreath, Fair to the eye, but poifons lurk beneath, By wliich, too lightly tempted from his guard, Full many a Painter dies, and many a Bard. 400 How fweet her voice, how dang'rous her fpell. Let Spenser's Knights, and Rubens' Tritons tell; Judgment at coiour'd riddles fliakes his head, And fairy Songs are prais'd, but little read ; Where, in the Maze of her unbounded Sphere, 405 Unbridled Fancy runs her wild Career. In Realms where Supcrftition's tyrant fway ^' Takes half the vigor of the foul away," Let Art for fubjedls the dark Legend fearch, Where Saints unnumber'd people every Church ; 410 Let Painters run the wilds of Ovid o'er. To hunt for monfters which we heed no more. But here, my Romney, where, on Freedom's wings, The towering Spirit to Perfedlion fprings ; Where Genius, proud to adl as Heav'n infpires, 415 On 1 afte's pure Altars lights his facred fires ; Ohl [ 49 ] Oh ! here let Painting, as of old in Greece^ With patriot paffions warm the finifh'd piece ; Let Britain, happy in a gen'rous race, Of manly Spirit, and of female Grace, 42a Let this frank Parent with fond eyes explore, Some jujft memorials of the line fhe bore. In tints immortal to her view recall Her deareft Offspring on the ftoried Wall. But fome there are, who, with pedantic fcorn, 425 Defpife the Hero, if in Britain born : For them Perfedion has herfelf no charms, Without a Roman robe, or Grecian arms : Our flighted Country, for whofe Fame they feel No generous Litereft, no manly Zeal, 430 Sees public Judgment their falfe Tafte arraign. And treat their cold contempt with due difdain ; To the fair Annals of our Ifle we truft, To prove this patriot indignation juft, And, nobly partial to our native earth, 435 Bid Englifli Pencils honour Englifli Worth. * - Shall Bayard, glorious in his dying hour. Of Gallic Chivalry the faireft FlowV, * Ver. 436. See NOTE LIIl. H Shall [ 50 T Shall his pure Blood in Britidi colours flow, And Britain, on her canvafs, fairto fhew 440; Her wounded Sidney, Bayard's perfed: peer, * Sidney, her Knight, without Reproach or Fear, O'er whofe pale corfe heroic Worth fhou Id bend,. And mild Humanity embalnxher Friend ! Oh ! RoMNEY, in his hour of Death we find 445; A Suhjcd worthy of thy feeHng Mind ;, Mcthinks I fee thy rapid Hand difplay The field of Zutphen, on that fatal day, When arm'd for freedom^ 'gainfl:. the guilt of Spain, The Hero bled upon the Belgic plain !: 45^0 In that great moment thou haft caught the Chief,, When pitying Friends fupply the wifli'd relief, While Sicknefs, Pain, and Thirft his pow'r fubdtie, , I fee the draught he pants for in his view : Near him the Soldier that expiring lies,. ^SS- This precious Water views with ghaftly eyes, With eyes that from their fockets feem to burft^. With eager, frantic, agonizing Thirft : * Vcr. 441. See NOTE LIV. I fee I 51 ] I fee the Hero give, oh ! generous Care f The Cup untafled to this filent Pray'r ; ^60 •I hear him fay, with Tendernefs divine, ** Thy ftrong Neceffity furpaflfes mine." Shall Roman Charity for ever fhare Thro' every various School each Painter's Care? And Britain ftill her bright examples hide 465 Of female Gloryj and of filial Pride ? Inftrud: our eyes, my Romnby, to adore Th' heroic Daughter of the virtuous More,* Refolv'd to fave, or in th' attempt expire. The precious relicks of her martyr'd Sire : 470 Before the cruel Council let her ftand, Prefs the dear ghaftly Head with pitying Hand, And plead, while Bigotry itfelf grows mild, The facred duties of a grateful Child. Forgive the Mufe, if haply fhe commend • 475 A Theme ill-chofen to her ikilful Friend ; She, tho' its pow'r commands her willing heart, Knows not the limits of thy lovely Art, *Vcr. 46S. See NOTE LF. H 2 Yet t 52 3 Yet boldly owns an eager vvifli to fee Her darling Images adorn'd by thee. 4Ea> Nor fliall her focial Love in filence hide. The iiirt emotions of her grateful Pride, When thy quick Pencil pours upon her fight Her own Creation in a fairer light ; When her Serena learns from thee to live, 485 And pleafe by every charm that life can give. Thou haft imparted to th' ideal Fair Yet more than Beauty's bloom, and Youth's attradive air 5. For in thy ftudious Nymph th' enamour'd Eye May, thro' her breaft, her gentle Heart defcry ; 490" See the fond thoughts, that o'er her Fancy roll, And Sympathy's foft fvvell, that fills her fouL But happier Bards, who boaft a higher claimj. Afk from thy Genius an increafe of Fame; Oh ! let tlrc Sifters, who, with friendly aid,- . 495- The Grecian Lyre, and Grecian Pencil fway'd, Who join'd their rival Pov/ers with fond delight, To crrace each other with refieded Light, Let them in Britain thus united reign. And double luftre from that union gain ! 500 Not C 53 ] Not that my Verfe, adventurous, would pretend To point each varied fubjed: to my Friend ;. Far nobler guides their better aid fupply : When mighty Shakespeare to thy judging eye Prefents that magic Glafs, whofe ample. Round 5^5 Refleds each Figure in Creation's bound^. And pours, in floods of fupernatural light. Fancy's bright Beings on the charmed fight. This chief Inchanter of the willing bread, Will teach thee all the magic he poflTeft, 510 Plac'd in, his Circle, mark incolours true Each brilliant; Being that he calls to view : Wrapt in the gloomy ftorm, or rob'd in light. His weird Siller or his fairy Sprite, Boldly o'erleaping,. in, the. great defignj 515- The bo.unds of Nature, with a- Guide divine. Let Milton's felf, eondutSlor of thy way. Lead thy congenial- fpirit to portray In Colours, like his Verfe> fublimely ftrong. The feenes that blaze in his immortal fong. 52O-' See Michael drawn, by many a fkilful Hand, , As fuits the Leader of the Seraph-Band ! 9. But^ But oh ! how poor the proftratc Satan lies,* With beftial form debased and goatifh eyes ! How chang'd from him who leads the dire debate, 525 Fearlefs tho' fallen, and in Ruin /n-eat ! Let thy bold Pencil, more fublimely true, Prefent his Arch Apoftate to our view. In worthier Semblance of infernal Pow'r, • And proudly ftanding like a ftately towT, 530 While his infernal mandate bids awake Hi3 Legions, flumbering on the burning Lake. Or paint him falling from the Realms of Bliis^ Hurl'd in Combuftion to the deep Abyfs ! In light terrific let the Flafh difplay 53^ His Pride, ftill proof againft almighty Sway : Thq' vanquifFi'd, yet immortal, let his Eye The Lightning's flame, the Thunder's bolt defy, And ftill, with Looks of Execration, dare To face the Horrors of the laft Defpair. 540 To thefe great Lords of Fancy's wide domain, That o'er the human Soul unqueftion'd reign, !Ver. 523. See NOTE LVL * To [ 55 ] To their fuperior Guidance be confign*d Thy rival Pencil and congenial Mind. Yet O ! let Friendfliip, ere the Verfe flie clofe, 545 Which in juft Tribute to thy Merit flows,. The fanguine wiflies of her heart exprefs, With fond prefages of thy full Succefs. May Health and Joy,^ in happieft union join'd,.. Breathe their warm Spirit o'er thy fruitful Mind ! 550 To noblefh Efforts raife thy glowing Heart, And firing thy Jdnews to the toils of Art ! May Independance, burfting Fafhion's chain,. To eager Genius give the flowing rein,. And o'er thy epic Canvafs fmile to fee 555: Thy Judgment adlive, and thy Fancy free ! May thy juft Country, while thy bold defign Recalls the Heroes of her ancient Line,. Gaze on the martial Group with dear delight! May Youth and, Valour, kindling at the fight, 560 G'er the bright Tints with Admiration lean. And catch new Virtue from the moral Scene ! May Time himfelf a fond Reluctance feel, Nor from thy aged hand the Pencil fteal, But I 56 ] But grant it ftill to gain increafmg Praife, 5.65 In the late Period of thy lengthened days. While faireft Fortune thy long Life endears, With Raphael's Glory join'd to Titian's Years! NOTES NOTES TO THE FIRST EPISTLE. AS there may poffibly be fome Readers of the foregoing Performance, who may wifli to look into the fources from whence the Author has borrowed fome of his ideas, he has thrown together the fubfe- quent Notes, and disjoined them from the body of the Work, as they are intended only for the perufal of thofewho have leifure and difpofition for fuch kind of reading. NOTE I. Verse 77. ll/JAKE hijlory to life new value lend.'\ One of the moft elegant writers of the prefent age, has made an ingenious effort to intro- duce Hiftory into the dull province of Portrait-painting, ** by repre- fenting a whole family in a fingle pidure, under fome interefhing hif- torical fubjed: fuitable to their rank and character." See Fitzofborne's Letters, p. 6. But as the beauties and advantages of this plan flruck forcibly on the imagination of this amiable Author, the infinite diffi- culties attending its execution were likewifc fully open to his difcern- ment. The fuccefs muff depend on the choice of fa bjed : where that is not very happily adapted, the pi^fture will probably contain fome mod ridiculous abfurdities — Perhaps the Reader may recoiled an unfortu- nate inftance or two of this kind. I NOTE 58 NOTES. NOTE II. Verse ioo. Not Icfs abjurd to flatter Neros eyes.] Pliny furniflies us with this fingular anecdote, as an inftance of the extravagant ahufe of Portrait- painting in his days, which, as he informs us, had arrived to a degree of madnefs. ** Nero had ordered himfelf to be painted under the fi- gure of a Coloflus, upon cloth or canvafs, a hundred and twenty feet in height." The fame author informs us, that this prepofterous pic- ture, when it was finirtied, met with its fate from lightning, which confumed it, and involved likewife the moft beautiful part of the gar- dens where it was placed in the conflagration. The Reader may find fome ingenious remarks upon this fubjed, in the Notes fur I'Hifloire de la Peinture ancienne extraite de rHilloire naturelle de Pline. FoL London, 1725. NOTE III. Verse 108. B/efi he the pencil ! which from death can fave.'] The fweet illullon of this enchanting art is prettily exprefied in a Letter of Raphael's to his friend Franccfco Raifolini, a Bolognefe painter. The two iirtifts had agreed to exchange their own portraits, and Raphael, on receiving his friend's picture, addrelles him in the following words ; ** Mefler Franccfco mio caro ricevo in quello punto il voftro ritratto — ^ _ egll e belliiTimo, e tanto vivo, che m* inganno talora, creden- domi di effere con eiTo voi, e fentire le voftre parole." Raccolta di Lettere fulla Pittura, &c. Tom. i. pag. 82. The charm of Portrait-painting is ftill more beautifully defcribed in verfe by a friend of Raphael's, the amiable and accomplifhed Count Balthafor Caftiglione. Sola tuos Vultus referens Raphaelis imago Pi6la manu, curas allevat ufque meas : Huic ego delicias facio, arrifuque jocoque Alloquor, et tanquam reddere verba queat Alien fu^ NOTES. 59 AlTenfu, nutuque mihl Cxpe ilia videtur Dicere velle aliquid, et tua verba loqui. Agnofclt balboque Patrem, puer ore falutat. Hoc folor, longos decipioqae dies, Thefe elegant lines are part of an epiille, written in the name of his Countefs, Hyppolyte, to her hu{band. See Pope's edition of the Poemata Italorum, Vol. ii. page 248. NOTE IV. Verse 126. Infpird by thee, the foft Corinthian MaidJ] Pliny has tranfmitted to us the Hiftory of the Maid of Corinth and her father. *' Dibutades, a potter of Sicyon, firft formed likeneffes in clay at Corinth, but was indebted to his daughter for the invention; the girl being in love with a young man who was foon going from her into fome remote country, traced out the lines of his face from his fliadow upon the wall by candle-light. Her father, filling up the lines with clay, formed a buft, and hardened it in the fire with the reft of his earthen ware." Plin. Lib. 35. Athenagoras, the Athenian philofopher, gives a fimilar account of this curious and entertaining anecdote, adding the circumftance that the youth was fleeping when the likenefs was taken from his ihadow. The fame writer, who lived in the fecond century of the Chriilian sra, informs us that this monument of ancient art was extant at Co- rinth in his time, though Pliny feems to intimate that it did not furvive the taking of that city by Mummius. In the Poefies de Fontenelle there is an epiftle from the Maid of Co- rinth, whom the author calls Dibutadis, to her imaginary lover Pole- mon, She defcribes her own work in the following Stanzas : I 2 Un« 6o NOTE S. Une lampe pretoit une Lumiere fombre Qui m' aidoit encore a rever : Je voyols fur un mur fe depeindre ton ombre, Et m' appllquois a Tobferver : Car tout plait, Polemon, pour peu qu'il reprefentc L' objet de notre attachement, C'efl aflez pour flater les langueurs d'une amante Que Tombre feule d'un amant. Mais je poufTai plus loin cette douce chimere, Je voulus fixer en ces Lieux, Attacher a ce mur une ombre paflagere Pour la conferver a mes j eux. Alors en la fuivant du Bout d'une baguette Je trace une Image de toi ; Une image, il eft vrai, peu diftin(fle, imparfaite, Mais enfin charmante pour moi. NOTE V. Verse 194. ^^"joas then Pancvus drew^ 'with freedojiis train.] Pana^us was the brother of Phidias, the celebrated Sculptor, whom he is faid to have affifted in his nobleft works. Paufanias, in his Fifth Book, gives an ac- count of feveral pidlures by this early Artift, and particularly of the pidure here alluded to. It was painted in the celebrated portico called noix.jxji, Pcecile. Befides a general reprefentation of the conflid, the flight of the barbarians, and a diftant view of their fl:iips, Thefeus, Minerva, and Hercules were, according to this author, exhibited in the piece. The moft confpicuous figures among the perfons engaged were Calli- machus, and Miltiades, and a hero called Echetlus : he mentions alfo another NOTES. 6i another hero, who is introduced into the picture, called Marathon, from whom, he fays, the field had its name. Paufanias, fol. Lip. 1696. p. 37. From Pliny's account of the fame pidure we learn that the heads of the generals were portraits — adeo jam colorum ufus percrebuerat^ adeoque ars perfeda erat ut in eo Praslio ICONICOS duces pinxille tradatur. — Plin. Lib. 35. c. 8. Miltiades had the honour of being placed foremoft in this illuf- trious group, as a reward for his having faved Athens, and all Greece. Cor. Nep. in Vita Miltiadis. PansEUS flouriihed, according to Pliny, in the 83d Olympiad, little more than forty years after the battle he painted, NOTE VL Verse 198. There Polygiiotus, /corning ferviie hire."] Of the talents of Polyg- notus much honourable mention is made by many of the befl authors of antiquity, as Ariflotle and Plutarch^ Dionyfius Halicarnaifenfis, &c. Paufanias fpeaks of the pidrures here alluded to, and in his Tenth Book, introduces a very long defcription of other pictures by the fame artill:, painted alfo from Homer in the Temple at Delphos. The pafTage however gives but a confufed and imperfed: idea of the painter's performance.. How much the art is indebted to this ancient mafter,. what grace and foftnels he gave to the human countenance, what embellifliments he added to the fcinale figure and drefs, are much more happily deicribed by Pliny. Primus Mulieres lucida vefte pinxit, capita earum mitris verficoloribus operuit, pluri- mumque pid:uriE primus contulit : fiquidem inilituit os adaperire, dentes oftendere, vultum ab antique rigore variare. The fame author likewife bears honourable teflimony to the liberal fpirit of this great artifl, who refufed ary reward for his incenious labours in the por- tico. — 62 N O T E S. tico.»— Porticum graruito, cum partem ejus Mycon mercede pin- geret. Plin. Lib. 35. cap. 8. He flourirticd about the 90th Olympiad. NOTE VII. Verse 202. T!hy tragic pencil, Arifiides, caught !\ The city of Thebes had the honour of giving birth to this celebrated Artift. He was the firfl, according to Pliny, who exprelled Character and Paffion, the Human Mind, and its feveral emotions ; but he was not remarkable for foft- ncfs of colouring. " His moft celebrated pi(flure was of an infant (on the taking of a town) at the motlier's brealt, who is wounded and expiring. The fcnfations of the mother were clearly marked, and her fear leaft the child, upon failure of the milk, fhould fuck her blood." " Alexander the Great," continues the fame author, ** took this pidlure with him to Pella." It is highly probable^ according to the conje6ture of Junius, (in his learned Treatife de Piftura Veterum) that the following beautiful epigram of ^Emilianus was written on this exquifite pidture : EXxu