Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
Dissertations On The Polite Arts.
efforts must have been to make choice of the , most beautiful par's of nature , to form one exquisite whole which s'hould be more perfect than mere nature , without ceasing , however , to be natural . This is the princip le upon which the fundamental plan of all arts must necessarily have been built , and which all the great artists have followed in every age of the world . Whence we may conclude , first , that genius , which is the father of arts ht to imitate nature . Secondlythat
, oug , nature should not be imitated such as she is . Thirdly , that taste , for which arts are made , and which is their judge , ought to be satisfied whether nature be well chosen and well imitated by the arts . Thus all our rules should tend to establish the imitation of ( what we may call ) beautiful nature . The word imitation contains two ideas . First , the prototype , or
that which contains the touches to be imitated . Secondly , the copy which represents them . Nature ( that is to say , all that is , or that we easily conceive as possible ) is the prototype or model of arts . An industrious imitator must have his eyes always fixt . upon her , and be always considering her : and why ? because it contains all the plans of " regular works , and the designs of every ornament that inde
can please us . Arts do not create their own rules , they are - pendent of their caprice , and invariably traced in the example of nature . ( To be continued . )
Generous Sentiments On The Prosperity Of Others, Conducive To Our Own Happiness.
GENEROUS SENTIMENTS ON THE PROSPERITY OF OTHERS , CONDUCIVE TO OUR OWN HAPPINESS .
ON looking into life I have often dwelt in pensive contemplation upon the discontent which so generally prevails among men , and their frequent complaints occasioned by the disposal of worldly § Why ate we so dissatisfied with our situation ? Why does eveiy little disappointment add a thorn to our hearts , every obseivation of distil deadlie into minds
increased prosperity around us a r drop our , and the lowliness of our condition make us peevish and unthankful ? This misery of life can proceed only from a narrow and selfish princip le . If others of our fellow-creatures were not shining under the warm rays of apparent happiness in a more elevated station , and enjoying thereby those comforts and elegances which we vainly - dues of virtues and the sih
flatter ourselves are the just our industry , g of discontent , and the voice of complaint , would not be so frequently heard . We are , then , happy or otherwise only by comparison , and the state of our minds depends principally upon the eye with which we view the various scenes of prosperity or affliction that are scattered around us .
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
Dissertations On The Polite Arts.
efforts must have been to make choice of the , most beautiful par's of nature , to form one exquisite whole which s'hould be more perfect than mere nature , without ceasing , however , to be natural . This is the princip le upon which the fundamental plan of all arts must necessarily have been built , and which all the great artists have followed in every age of the world . Whence we may conclude , first , that genius , which is the father of arts ht to imitate nature . Secondlythat
, oug , nature should not be imitated such as she is . Thirdly , that taste , for which arts are made , and which is their judge , ought to be satisfied whether nature be well chosen and well imitated by the arts . Thus all our rules should tend to establish the imitation of ( what we may call ) beautiful nature . The word imitation contains two ideas . First , the prototype , or
that which contains the touches to be imitated . Secondly , the copy which represents them . Nature ( that is to say , all that is , or that we easily conceive as possible ) is the prototype or model of arts . An industrious imitator must have his eyes always fixt . upon her , and be always considering her : and why ? because it contains all the plans of " regular works , and the designs of every ornament that inde
can please us . Arts do not create their own rules , they are - pendent of their caprice , and invariably traced in the example of nature . ( To be continued . )
Generous Sentiments On The Prosperity Of Others, Conducive To Our Own Happiness.
GENEROUS SENTIMENTS ON THE PROSPERITY OF OTHERS , CONDUCIVE TO OUR OWN HAPPINESS .
ON looking into life I have often dwelt in pensive contemplation upon the discontent which so generally prevails among men , and their frequent complaints occasioned by the disposal of worldly § Why ate we so dissatisfied with our situation ? Why does eveiy little disappointment add a thorn to our hearts , every obseivation of distil deadlie into minds
increased prosperity around us a r drop our , and the lowliness of our condition make us peevish and unthankful ? This misery of life can proceed only from a narrow and selfish princip le . If others of our fellow-creatures were not shining under the warm rays of apparent happiness in a more elevated station , and enjoying thereby those comforts and elegances which we vainly - dues of virtues and the sih
flatter ourselves are the just our industry , g of discontent , and the voice of complaint , would not be so frequently heard . We are , then , happy or otherwise only by comparison , and the state of our minds depends principally upon the eye with which we view the various scenes of prosperity or affliction that are scattered around us .