Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
The Removal Of The Monuments Of The Fine Arts From Italy To France.
I have stated to you , my friend , that France will derive no advantage from despoiling the monuments of the arts in Italy j . but what perhaps may astonish you , 1 will go further , and even assert that these sacrilegious depredations will not tend to accelerate the progress of our artists . I will now state the grounds for this opinion : At the time of Michael Angelo , Raphael , and Titian , the Italians had not dug from the earth a fourth part of those antiques with which
their cities are now adorned . The most beautiful paintings which we consider as models , are the productions of those celebrated artists and their first pupils . Since their time , the art has always been on the decline ; it is not then merely to the circumstance of possessing models of art that , we are indebted for the great modern masters . Would you knowmy friendwhat chiefly contributes to the
pro-, , speri ty of the arts . Independently of great models , itis the patronage of such men as the Medicis , Julius II . Leo X . Louis XIV : it is the patronage of a Colbert , capable , amidst a crowd of illiterate pretenders and intriguers , to discern men frequently too modest , who possess abilities equal to great productions . It is " necessary that the directors of the arts should be acquainted with the proper means , in order to bring
forward and multi ply distinguished talents . It is not by profuse expence that this object is to be attained ; itis by dextrous management , and by superior discernment .- But to return to the subject of my letter , let us love the arts for the sake of the arts themselves ; let us regard with due respect the capital productions , aud carefully protect them from injury , and above all let us leave them . where they are , when they are well displayed and arranged with taste and order . ( Signed ) LOUIS , Architect .
Curious Anecdote Of A French Traveller.
CURIOUS ANECDOTE OF A FRENCH TRAVELLER .
Ut FRENCH writer remarks , that Mr . Addison , in one of his papers ~ - ^ in the Spectator , returns thanks to Providence for being born an Englishman , because the English language is more - analagous to the taciturnity of his character ; and the number of monosyllables , of which it is composed , affords him the means of expressing his ideas with as little sound as possible . But I , " continues the Frenchman , also thank
the Almi ghty for being born a Frenchman , because I am fond of rambling- about , and it is very agreeable and convenient to me to find my language spoken among all people throughout Europe . And the French language being adopted by all the European nations , renders us idle in endeavouring to acquire the foreign languages , because we think that with our own we may travel any where . The Parisians , in particular , are so persuaded that this is the fact , that they imagine there is scarcely a person on the face of the globe but what understands French ; it is true , that in all the Christian
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
The Removal Of The Monuments Of The Fine Arts From Italy To France.
I have stated to you , my friend , that France will derive no advantage from despoiling the monuments of the arts in Italy j . but what perhaps may astonish you , 1 will go further , and even assert that these sacrilegious depredations will not tend to accelerate the progress of our artists . I will now state the grounds for this opinion : At the time of Michael Angelo , Raphael , and Titian , the Italians had not dug from the earth a fourth part of those antiques with which
their cities are now adorned . The most beautiful paintings which we consider as models , are the productions of those celebrated artists and their first pupils . Since their time , the art has always been on the decline ; it is not then merely to the circumstance of possessing models of art that , we are indebted for the great modern masters . Would you knowmy friendwhat chiefly contributes to the
pro-, , speri ty of the arts . Independently of great models , itis the patronage of such men as the Medicis , Julius II . Leo X . Louis XIV : it is the patronage of a Colbert , capable , amidst a crowd of illiterate pretenders and intriguers , to discern men frequently too modest , who possess abilities equal to great productions . It is " necessary that the directors of the arts should be acquainted with the proper means , in order to bring
forward and multi ply distinguished talents . It is not by profuse expence that this object is to be attained ; itis by dextrous management , and by superior discernment .- But to return to the subject of my letter , let us love the arts for the sake of the arts themselves ; let us regard with due respect the capital productions , aud carefully protect them from injury , and above all let us leave them . where they are , when they are well displayed and arranged with taste and order . ( Signed ) LOUIS , Architect .
Curious Anecdote Of A French Traveller.
CURIOUS ANECDOTE OF A FRENCH TRAVELLER .
Ut FRENCH writer remarks , that Mr . Addison , in one of his papers ~ - ^ in the Spectator , returns thanks to Providence for being born an Englishman , because the English language is more - analagous to the taciturnity of his character ; and the number of monosyllables , of which it is composed , affords him the means of expressing his ideas with as little sound as possible . But I , " continues the Frenchman , also thank
the Almi ghty for being born a Frenchman , because I am fond of rambling- about , and it is very agreeable and convenient to me to find my language spoken among all people throughout Europe . And the French language being adopted by all the European nations , renders us idle in endeavouring to acquire the foreign languages , because we think that with our own we may travel any where . The Parisians , in particular , are so persuaded that this is the fact , that they imagine there is scarcely a person on the face of the globe but what understands French ; it is true , that in all the Christian