William Hayley
Published: 2013-09
Total Pages: 72
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This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can usually download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1809 edition. Excerpt: ... often expressed his high admiration of the original. I now return to such occurrences during our brief residence in Paris, as particularly relate either to Romney, or his art. The living painters of France, who chiefly engaged his notice, were David and Greuse. Each of these artists favored us with his company to dinner, and David attended us in our visit to the Luxemburgh gallery. This celebrated composition of Rubens had been an idol of my infancy, as the prints of it happened to form a part of the furniture in the dressing room of my mother. Hence a sight of the original pictures affected me with very singular delight. How great is the influence of petty incidents in magnifying the pleasures of human life, when the mind is disposed to avail itself of their power? This magnificent work, with striking defects, has infinite merit. It contains a female head, which in point of expression appeared to me one of the happiest efforts of art, that I ever beheld. I venture to make some observations upon it, in opposition to a sentiment of Sir Joshua Reynolds, who derides those lovers of painting, that fancy they discover in a picture what he thought the pencil could not express, a mixed emotion of the mind. The countenance I allude to is that of the Queen contemplating her new-born child. Her features, if I am not greatly deceived, very clearly and forcibly display the traces of departed pain, and the immediate influence of tenderness and delight. We may learn from the charm of this admirable head, that the most common emotions of nature, when delineated with delicacy and force, are sure to interest and enchant a spectator. The Splendor of Rubens did not strike us blind to the merit of David. His death of Socrates, his Paris and Helen, and his...