and Horse into a Bottomless Gulff and the Three Decii the Father in the Roman Warr the Son in the Tuscane and the Nephew in the Battle against Pyrrbus all which ran into certain and Eminent Death for the good of their Country And for Military Discipline Posthumus the Dictator who put his own Son to Death for getting a Conquest over his Enemies by breaking his Ranks with innumerable more Emblems of Divers Vertues and pieces of Gallantry Certainly these Painted with a great Spirit Passion and Gracefull Action must be more Instructive and Exciting then the most Rhetoricall Herangue It is the most Ingenuous Art and greatly assisting to Natural Philosophy since with the greatest Scrutiny it examines into the very Entity of Nature It Argues in the Masters the Finest and Sublimest Invention to Express many Times the most Heroick Actions in the World with greater Magnanimity and Beauty then the Celebrated Actors were possessed with And those great Men whose Works have been held in such Admiration both by the greatest Judgments as well as the Noblest Quality it shews in them Souls Capacitated and Adapted for such high Actions as themselves have Exprest so to the Life for there must be a Concretion of Idea's into a Form in the Minde before Action is produc'd of Mindes to Replete their works are sufficient Evidence CAP. II. Of the Antiquity of Painting THE Omnipotent whose Divine Pencel Drew all these Wonders which continually present themselves to our Admiration and which Man by an Homaeomere endeavours to imitate Challenges the Prerogative of this Art to himself Job 39. 13. and as his peculiar Gift bestow'd it on Bezaleel and Aholiah Exodus 31. whom he fil'd with his spirit in Wisdome and Understanding in Knowledge to finde out curious Works to Carve c. which we shall shew hereafter to be the same with Painting in Essence but exceeded by it in Perfection Minus King of the Assyrians as History Reports having Celebrated the Obsequies of his Father Belus First King of Babilon to Mitigate part of the sorrow for his Fathers Death and to restore in some measure such a loss caused his Image to be Carv'd After the Deluge Prometheus Son of Japhet Invented Plastick and was in such Request with the Arcadians being of a Pregnant Witt and sollid Wisdom that he brought the Rude and Barbarous People into civil Conversation he added Artificiall Motion to his Images whence the Poets since have made their Fictions After this the Art came to be better known and with the growing Art Honour to the Inventors increas'd therefore Gyges the Lydian amongst the Egiptians Pyrrus amongst the Grecians and Polygnotus the Athenian amongst the Corinthians were highly Valued as the first amongst them that found out Painting They first began in Black and White Plin. lib. 35. cap. 1 2 3. c. the Authors Ardices the Corinthian and Telephanus the Sicyonian then Cleophantes the Corinthian brought up the use of Colours though principally but One whence the Historiographers call'd it Monochroma Apollodorus afterwards the Athenian began the use of the Pencell as likewise Cumanus the Athenian Cimon Cleondus added much Perfection by Fore-shortning after Paneus added farther Perfection Inventing the Art of Drawing by the Life Parrhasius the Ephesian did farther adorn it as likewise Zeuxes who brought up the manner of Shaddowing Appelles added the last Perfection by the help of Geometry and Arithmetick without which as his Master Pamphilus would say no Man could prove a Painter and Bernard Lovinus would say a Painter without Perspective was like a Doctor without Grammer And indeed it is a Compound of many Arts as Geomitry Architecture Arithmetick Perspective c. for a Painter cannot perform without Lines Superficies Profunditys Thickness and Geometricall Figures Nor can Churches Pallaces Amphitheaters Bridges Ports and other Buildings be Represented without Skill in Architecture Nor without Arithmetick can he Understand the Proportion of Mans Body to take it in any sise or the Proportion of other Things either Artificiall or Naturall And without a good Judgment in Perspective the work will be full of Faults it must be us'd in all Fore-shortnings all Distances in Highths c. nay without a Carefull Disposal of the Colours according to Perspective a simple Convex will be Defective in its Orbicularity but we shall discourse of Perspective by it self So sacred have the Memorys of the Inventers of this Art been of our Progenitors that they have carefully Transmitted them down to us and Doubtless will be to all Posterity And although not only by diverse Contingences but the necessity of Fate is such that the Formation of one Species must be through the Destruction of another that there may be a Circulation to the Termination of Time by Consequence the Materials of their Art have perished yet such hath been the Care of Fame over the Eldest Sons of Art that she hath writ their Names on the Adamantine Rock beyond the Power of the Cruel and Remorsless Jaws of Time with Teeth of Iron to Devour CAP. III. The Reputation Painting hath had in the World IT is sufficiently Known in what Esteem Painting hath been amongst the Aegyptians under which they Communicated all their Natural and Morall Philosophy it was their Treasury where they Accumulated all their Arts and Sciences For since the Power-Memorative could not contain all the Similitudes and Idea's which by the Labour of the most Ingenious Infinite in Possibility were Produc'd here they Reserv'd all the Occult Riches of their Misticall Knowledge to all succeeding Ages From thence in Process of time hath been Transmitted down to us considerable Benefit in Philosophy by the Hands of Plato Pythagoras and other Philosophers who sayl'd to Aegypt to transport it thence And though some of their Hieroglyphicks appear Ampfractnous to us which doubtless is from their long disuse yet some I have seen not so Aenigmaticall but might be easily Understood and as before was hinted they had the Advantage hereby to speak in all Languages and so of their most precious Wealth were Eleimosynary to the whole World In imitation of them the Ancient Romans set up Emblems in Publick places of divers Animals under which their Philosophycal Misteries were couched and from Hieroglyphicks and Emblems they proceeded to Paint the Famous Actions of Worthy Men that through the Emulation of their Actions they might Excite the Young Noble Spirits to like Performances Nor was this Art only Honoured by the Noble Use made of it in this manner but likewise by the Study and Practice therein by those of the greatest Quality as also by the vast Sums paid for severall pieces for the Encouragment of the Artists as well as for the future Profit and Pleasure thereby to themselves and Posterity We reade of Francis King of France and first of that Name that he Practis'd in it to a great Perfection as likewise Charles Immanuell Duke of Savoy who was well Read in all Heroicall Vertues as well as in the Liberall
THE ART OF PAINTING According to the THEORY and PRACTISE Of the Best Italian French and Germane Masters Treating of The Antiquity of Painting The Reputation it always had The Characters of several Masters Proportion Action and Passion The Effects of Light Perspective Draught Colouring Ordonnance Far more Compleat and Compendious then hath yet been Publisht by any Antient or Modern The Second Edition Pictoribus atque Poetis Quidlibet audendi Hor. By M. S. Gent. LONDON Printed by M. B. for the Author and are to be sold by R. Bently in Russel-street Covent-Garden and J. Hancock in Castle-Ally by the Royal-Exchange Price 2s 6d 1693. TO THE QUEEN'S Most Excellent MAJESTY ROYALL MADAM THE Art of Painting having receiv'd Incouragement and Protection in all Ages not only from the Most Honourable Personages but also from the Fountains of Honour Themselves and particularly amongst the Number of Kings and Emperours from those two your Majestys Royall Predecessours King Charles the First and King Charles the Second and likewise in that Honourable Regard your Illustrious Self hath had of the Art in the Gallery of Beautys at Hampton-Court done by the Incomparable Artist Sir Godfery Kneller Kt. Imbolden'd me to lay this small Essay at your Royall Feet sor Protection And although it 's far beneath your Majestys notice yet Considering the Sun disdains not to shine on the low Hysop as well as on the tall Cedar I rest in Humble hopes of a Pardon to May it please Your MAJESTY Your HIGHNESSES Most Obedient and Most Dutifull Servant and Subject MARSHALL SMITH TO THE Right Honourable The COUNTESS of SOUTHERLAND MADAM DUring the long Conversation you were pleas'd to honour my Sister with at her own House I perceiv'd so much goodness mixt with your Greatness Illustrated with the greatest Efforts of Wisdom and Knowledge that it not only brought me oftner to that dearest Sisters house then my Affections to her might have done to admire the Noble Conduct of your Life but also imbolden'd me to beg the Favour of laying this Treatise at her Majesties Feet The Honour she was pleas'd to do me in the Manner of it's Reception I must Impute to the great share you have in her Majesties Affections and not to the weak Endeavours of MADAM Your Most Obedient Servant MARSHALL SMITH TO THE Honourable Lovers of the Noble Art OF PAINTING And the Celebrated PROFESSORS of it My LORDS and GENTLEMEN I Did not think I should so soon by another Edition have an Oppertunity to give you Thanks for your kind reception of the former the Honour her Majesty hath done my Book with that of diverss Persons of Quality by their kind Censures of it puts me above any Concern for the few Enemies I have gotten by it if such are worthy to be call'd so who have only will but not power to be so Some who have a better Opinion of themselves than perhaps they may deserve from others have thought me Partial in the Characters but sure I am I have been Impartial according to the best of my Judgement of what Value that Judgment is were impertinent for me to declare since at last my Book must be the Test of it If any could informe me how to please all I would follow his advice and Erit mihi Magnus Apollo That Ingenious Arts have so great Incouragement which I well perceive by the kind reception of this Trifle is no small satisfaction to me although I have no Interest in it otherways then as a well-wisher to my Country being no Professor only a Lover of the Art of Painting that it may still more Flourish till it makes England more Famous then ever Greece was for the Product of Noble Arts and Sciences Is the hearty desire of My Lords and Gentlemen Your Most Humble Servant M. Smith To the READER SInce the Former Edition I have receiv'd the Character of an Ingenious Gentleman Mr. Guil. de Ryck from those who have long known him viz. From his first initiating into the Latine Tongue he was inclined to Drawing and became Disciple to Quilenus of whom he learnt Drawing Painting Perspective and Architecture not to mention his Curious Skill in Enammel Minuture c. The Peice that first remark'd him was Mattias in the Cathedral in Antwerp in which the Veines Muscles c. in the Nudities proclame his Skill in Anatomy In the Chancery of Cortray he Painted the King of Spain on Horseback in Burnisht Armour the City of Cortray below with a rising Sun above Fame with two Angels one holding a Crown the other a Scepter On the Trophy's this Inscription REGI HISP CANCEL CORT DD. CC. He was Invited to Brussels to Paint the Marquess de Grana and his Family in whole Lengths and several of the first of that Court. At a certain Triumph at Antwerp amongst divers Triumphant Arches he Order'd One at his proper expence adorn'd with Festoons at the top Oranges Pomegranats Lawrels c. wherein were five Capital Pictures three he made himself signifying Eclesia Antwerpia and Rex Hisp with this Cronicon HISPANIAE REX VERA EIDES VIVANT CLAMAT ANT VERPIA all boldly Painted A Magdelen was carried to Rome and was so lik'd that he was sent for thither He painted a Boy carrying Fruit and one comming behind him to steal some after the way of Morelio and was taken for his hand he also painted the Judgment of Paris for the Emperour after the manner of Possine At Dunkirk he Painted a Peice of St. Michael and another of St. Benedict and divers of his Pictures are now highly valued beyond Sea for Judgment in Order delicateness of Colouring and a right Consideration and agreablaness through the Whole But why need I goe so far from home since we have divers Peices in England which proclaime his Skill as a Magdelen at my Lady Wincelsea's and others by the Life at divers Persons of Qualities and Eminent Merchant's in the City Remarkable for likeness fastness of Colouring not only keeping their Colour but improving their beauty by time And his most Ingenious Daughter Mrs. Katherine comes behind none of her Fair Sex in the Art her Paintings by the Life very like soft Tender well order'd the Figures Gentle and Colouring Beautifull to the great Honour of her Sex And now Reader I shall not Insist upon Answering what I thought might be Objected as in my Former since it past so well with all its faults only ask thy Excuse that the Errata's are continued as Mr. Vande Bank for Mr. Van de Vert page 25 c. The reason being because I had not time to look over it till it was Printed Vale. The Author to his Book GOe Slender Pinnace to a Boist'rous Sea Where naught but Tempests Rocks and Quick-Sands be Such is the Curse attends this Wicked Age Such are the Actors fill this Spacious Stage That Impudence must pass for Wit and they Who'ave most of Malice bear the greatest Sway. Yet when thou meet'st with Real Wit Strike Sail Though
Diminution of Body with many more Observations in Nature onely Obvious to Colouring of absotute Necessity for the Animating of Figures Not that I would the least Detract from those Famous Artists who have obtain'd to themselves a lasting Name but think they more deserve to be worship'd for Gods then the Gods which were the works of their Hands CAP. V. That this Art is Requisite to the Education of a Gentleman from the Benefits and Pleasures thence arising THE more Noble any Science is certainly the more Essentiall it is to the Qualification of a Noble-Man that this is such is already prov'd from its Antiquity its several Honourable Proffessors with the Reception it hath had beyond all Arts in the World and in its own Nature being the most Laudable since of all Arts it nearest Imitates by continuall Copying after the wonderfull Hand of the Omnipotent What can become a Gentleman more then to talk Pertinently of so Ingenious a Science and which he hath continually before his Eyes when without a Judgment in it he shall by misplacing Proper Terms be the Jest of those whose greater skill will not excuse their ill manners herein Besides this being the greatest Ornament for Pallaces and Noblest Seats it prevents their being impos'd upon in Pieces of Value which they often suffer to great loss though to the Infamy of those Mercenary Men who are guilty of the Imposition It is the greatest Complement Convenience as well as Companion for Gentlemen that Travel to take a Draught of all Remarkable Things and Places c. which would be too great a Charge for the narrow Treasury of the Memory It 's of absolute Necessity for all Commanders for the Designing Fortifications Drawing of Lines c. and greatly assistant to the study of the Mathematicks Here they may see and Learn how their Predecessours Accumulated their Glorys and Learn to Emulate the Grandeur of their Actions that like them they may be Transmitted by some Artfull Hand to Posterity The Practice of this Art not only raises the Fancy but makes it Pregnant to the Production of still more great Idea's Pressing on to the Mount of Perfection where with pitty they behold the rest of Mankinde below And had not those Celebrated Wits both Painters and Poets whose Contemplative heads were Replenisht with a continuall Esslux of Notions by this or Poetry found a sweet discharge of their Crouded Fancy either being to big to pass through the Narrow Avenues of Common Sence they had burst forth in disorder without Maturity and so become but Distracted and Confus'd Notions or else being Forcibly pent in had stifled in their own Croud and so have perisht shut up in the Urn of the Brain to all Eternity to the Dishonour of Him who bestow'd these Gifts for the Manifestation of his Glory and the Benefit of Mankinde The Pleasures arising from this Art are Ineffable and on that Account deserve a Gentlemans study since it is better to be Happy then simply to Be. For by this may you Form an Elizium to the height of your Fancy beyond the Product of Nature and Equall to the Fictions of the Poets Imbroider'd Feilds Groves Damask'd with bright Beams Banks all Enameld and Transparent Streams Hereby within your Chamber may you see Majestick Hills Humble Vallyes Delightfull Groves silent Grotto's Delicious Plains Nimphs Fawns Satyrs Driades c. sporting together the state of Innocence and the Golden Age. Nor can we only Create Worlds Replenisht with Beatitudes to the highest Injoyment of the Noblest Sence the Sight but likewise so Potent are the Charmes of this Art that it often brings the Seraphick and Blest Souls from their sacred Mansions to Converse with Mortals below here to React their great Sufferings and Martyrdoms that by observing their Footsteps we imp'd on the wings of Vertue may mount to their Coelestial Thrones there to Injoy the Beatifick Vision in those Feilds of Light That after the Contemplation of the Wonderfull Beautys here below we there may behold the Sacred great Source of them all there wishing for a Pencel Omnipotent as the Hand which Form'd those Ravishing Delights to Copy out those blest Abodes the meanest place whereof is beyond Mortal Tongue to Express or the highest Rapture of Thought but to aim at Nor only to Incourage to Vertue but likewise to deter from Vice this Art hath furnisht us with Scenes of Horrour Rapes Murders c. that from the Terrour of such spectacles we may detest the Actions as Repugnant to Humanity Nay sometimes it opens the Adamantine Gates of the Black Abbiss the seat of Profound though Fiery Darkness save that the livid Flames serve to discover those Souls whose sins weighty as the massy Plumets of Eternall Night have sunk them to those Stygian Abodes Amongst the Number there you may justly express in some Common shoar Replete with Assa Faetida a sneaking Tribe of narrow Souls the Contemners of this Art who Murmuring and Repining at the Munificence of the Deity Grudge that he should receive any Glory from this his best of Gifts But should I sum up all the Benefits and Pleasures according to their vast Extent it would swell up a great Volume nor can it be expected I should Abridge in a few sheets what lyes in a Book of so Beautifull a Character Expanded over great part of the Universe CAP. VI. The Objections against Painting Answar'd ONE Objection is that 't is a Mechanick Art but I think this is made by those who are little Skil'd in Liberall Arts or Read in History for in Greece it was rank'd amongst the First of Liberall Sciences and throughout all Greece taught only to the Children of Noblemen and altogether sorbidden to be taught to others Aristotle in his Politiques accounteth it amongst those Liberalia Paideumata and adviseth it especially to be taught to the Young Nobles which after Eupompus a Famous Geometritian to his Utmost Incourag'd and Plinie not only allows it a Liberal Science but of the most Ornamentall for the great Oeconomists of the World and excited the Romans to the Imbraces of it Besides as Painting is subordinate to the Perspectives Natural Philosophy and Geometry which doubtless are Liberal Sciences and as it hath certain Demonstrable Conclusions deduced from the first and immediate Principles thereof shews of Necessity it must be esteem'd a Liberal Art That because it is work'd with the hand it must be a Mechanick Art is a poor Argument since without equal Labour of the hand no Mathematical Cosmographicall Hydrographicall c. Demonstrations can be perform'd nor is it of more Labour then Writing and several Gentle Diversions and he that despiseth the noblest Product of the Soul because it requires the Assistance of the Hands for Demonstration I think deserves not those usefull Members which he so foolishly Contemns Another Objection is that it hath been the occasion of Idolatry by the Pictures of Saints c. but that the Picture is the occasion of the Idolatry is
Millain Of Franciscus Matsolino a piece of our Lady at Millain Of Gaudeutius our Saviour Baptis'd by St. John Babtist in Jordan at Vigeuano Of Franciscus Vicentius the Evangelist Prophets and Sybells in St. Maria de Gratia Of Arsenodorus a Laocoon and his Sons in the Belverder at Rome Of Trosoda Moncia several Roman storys at Millain Of Austine of Millain the Vault of the Chappell of St. Maries de Carmine in Millain The Life of Mary Magdalen in the Chappell being of Bernard Zenale's doing Of Andreas Mantegna the Triumphs of Caesar at Mantua near the Dukes Of Rubens Vandyke Lyly at several People of Qualitys in England as well as in Italy .. Likewise upon inquiry throughout Italy you will find of Sebastian Piombo Alexander Moreto Girolamo Bressano Rosso Bologna Massotino Timotheo Vita Fattore Sesto Boccaccino Andra Solari Touagno Nibertus Leidamus Scorellus Burgeti Florus Pancelli Theodorus Mabutius Dionatense Lusto Maio Alasto Gasetto Frederick Barozzi Paulo Catiarius Lucas Cangiasus Ambros. Figinus Albert Durer Mastardo Brugill Grimaldo Pamphilus Perino del Vaga Peruginus Francesco Melzi Vicentius Foppa Matsobinus Bellino Frallaivoh Botticello Verrocchio Dominico Marcus Scieua c. CAP. VIII The Characters of several Masters I Shall only give Hints of some Names known amongst us since the Ingenious Mr. Sandrart hath so well Treated on the Generality of them which book is design'd to be Translated Michael Angelo is allowed the most Famous sor all Bodyly Motions all Foreshortnings c. as is universally acknowledg'd in that wonder of the world the Resurection in the Popes Chappel at Rome The divine Raphael so usually call'd amongst the Italians may be allow'd the Prince of Painters an Excellent Antiquary his Designs of Lofty and Noble Subjects with a great Manner and Spirit in his Works Titian and Tintoret likewise exercis'd their Judgments on Great Storys the latter whereof was call'd the Furious Tintoret from his bold way of Painting with Strong Lights and Deep Shaddows Rubins was an Indefatigable Painter he had a great Excellency in Colouring Flesh which was most Beautifull Soft Tender and Clear and the Nature it self and had he had the Italian Measures he had been one of the Greatest Masters in the World he was a general Master for History Landskips Sea-piece Fish Foul Architecture c Van-Dyke Painted wonderfull Natural variety of Colouring delicate Touches Soft and Tender with extream fine Observations about the Cheeks Chin c. he Painted Armour to a Miracle Sattens and other Draperys extream Fine Loose and Gentle in his Postures he us'd to Paint after those two Great Masters being a Disciple of the latter Lyly brought up first the curious Loose-Dressing of Pictures which most of our Masters since have follow'd he was extream fine about the Eyes very delicate upon the Hands a Free Masterly Touch in Hair he was Disciple of the Incomparable Van Dyke Holbin had a delicate Tender soft way in his Flesh Finisht up to a Miracle Rembrant had a Bold Free way Colours layd with a great Body and many times in old Mens Heads extraordinary deep Shaddows very difficult to Copy the Colours being layd on Rough and in Full touches though sometimes neatly Finish'd Moor had a very smooth neat way of Colouring which may be one Reason that his Paintings keep so fresh because the dirt is not apt to get in there have likewise been other Great Masters by the Life as Walker Zoust Hales Greenhill Wishin the late Rily c. Albert Duter generally wrought up his Horison of his Landskips to the Edge of his Pictures which is not so Gracefull although it may be Natural One of the Brugels Willebeck Dehem Seagers Thewlin c. were very fine in the Stillife especially Dehem Another of the Brugels generally cal'd Hellish Brugel was Famous for Scenes of Hell St. Anthonys Temptation c. his Head was strangely Pregnant of Chimera's but very prittily Touch'd Snyder De Vos were excellent in Beasts of Prey Fowling and Hunting in Large and Elshamet extraordinary in small as likewise Roben Hames and Tambois for Cattle Woverman was a great Master likewise the Elder Barsan Stenwick Masuccio De-Nef were three Extraordinary Masters in Painting Perspective For Sea-Pieces the Famous Precellus Bonaventure Peters c. The Great Possene Paul Brill Lanier Vanbots with many more were Remarkable in curious Landskips For Night-Pieces the Incomparable Dow Likewise Barsan and Elshamer have done Famous works in that way Brower was the most Famous for Boor-Pieces for every Touch speaks a Master and with a few stroaks could put what Passion in a Face he pleas'd Teneers likewise and one of the Brugels did very well in that manner of Painting Of Masters now Living SIR Godfrey Kneller Kt. Their Majesties principal Painter by Birth a Saxon and well descended was sent very young to Holland to learn the Mathematicks and other Sciences amongst which he was most inclin'd to Drawing and Painting wherein he made a beginning by the famous Rembrants direction at Amsterdam When somewhat improv'd his Father approving of his choice sent him to Rome and spar'd for no cost that he might exercise his genuine Fancy without any constraint or confinement In Rome he studyed the Antiques and Copyed very much after Raphael in the Vatican and was in great-esteem with Cavalier Bernini and by him much recommended for his Works But not being satisfi'd yet he went to Venice where he studyed Titians Works and especially his Portraits whereby he highly advanc'd himself into the Esteem and Respect of most of the chief Nobles of that Republick especially the House of Bassadonna whose Elder Brother being made Cardinal had his Picture Drawn by him and all his Brothers in several large Pieces and one of the first of his Eminences Pictures was sent with great Applause as a present to the Pope He likewise painted most of the House of Donado Garsoni Mocenigo and divers others But being call'd home by his Father and still desiring to advance his Skill and longing to see Sir Anthony Van Dyck's Works being most ambitious of imitating that great Master he therefore at length came into England where by his indefatigable Industry he got into the extraordinary Favour of King Charles the Second who approving of his Ability beyond any other sent him to paint the French King and all that Royal Family by which King he was very honourably Presented Since he was in great esteem with King James the Second but more particularly with Their present Majesties And his Majesty to shew his Kingly approbation of his Art and Manners was pleas'd to confer the Honour of Knighthood upon him on the Third of March 1692. and as an extraordinary Mark of his Grace and Favour Honour'd him with the Present of a Sword by the Hands of the Right Honourable the Lord Chamberlain Of his chief Paintings several are at VVindsor K. Charles in the Bed Chamber at VVhitehall The Gallery of Beauties at Hampton-Court Likewise Their present Majesties Pictures and that noble
Piece of the Duke of Schomberg on Horseback also at my Lady Dorchesters at Weybridge at my Lord Exeters and at many more Seats of Persons of Quality throughout England in which you will not only read the greatest Thought of the Artist in the very Minds of the Persons represented but also the most curious delicacy in Colouring adapting each Complexion with Tinctures like the Hand of Nature itself Nor is this Art so Ornamental to him but he an Equal Ornament to the Art being a Gentleman of good Morals True to his Friends Affable and free from the least appearance of Affectation or Pride Of which and more concerning his Skill and Works you may better read in his Conversation and the Works of the learned Sandrart Aca. Pic. lib. 3. cap 28. Mr. Varrio is a Man of vast Design in History Great and Lofty in his Manner witness the noble Work at VVindsor as likewise at several Persons of Qualities Houses The Ingenious Mr. Cook must be allow'd in History one of the greatest Masters of the Age he was Disciple to the famous Salvator Rose he hath Travel'd into Italy and studyed the great Antique Masters his Designs shew a vast Judgment thoroughly Consider'd and himself a strict Imitator of the best reputed Italian Masters Mr. Roustrate Paints the still Life with utmost Strength and Beauty as Colours will reach his Order and Manner extraordinary good his mixture of Plate musical Instruments c. have a great Harmony his Pictures are very Noble Gentle and Pleasant and himself allow'd in his way the best Master of the Age. Mr. Dubois the Elder is a very great Master in Landskip and exactly to the Italian manner The Younger for History and the Life especially in Small is a curious Painter they have by their extraordinary Industry made one of the finest Collections especially of closet Pieces in Europe The Ingenious Mr. Wyck for a Battle-Painter is doubtless not to be imitated in this Age his works are extream Neat Gentel and finely Finish'd his Colouring very Beautifull his Manner and Ordonance full of Judgment Mr. William Vande Velde for a Sea-Painter is unparraleld his work finely Finish'd and with a delicate Skye and his Father in Black and White does to a Miracle Mr. Scalker for Night-pieces and Lamps comes next to Dow himself Mr. Murry is a hopefull Scion of that Noble Stock Mr. Rily He Paints a Face admirable well very Gentel in his Manner and Postures and his work promiseth much Reputation to his Country He neither injures the Likeness by giving additional Beauty nor the Beauty and Gracefullness by carefully observing the Likeness Mr. Harman Verelst Paints well by the Life and was in good Repute in Germany he likewise Paints Fruit c. very fine Mr. Simon Verelst Paints Flowers extream fine beyond any in the former or present Age for neatness likewise Mr. William Verelst Paints Flowers very well The Ingenious Mr. Seekes is a very good Master by the Life puts Admirable Tinctures and Carnatiens in a Face Paints with a very good Body and Durable he is one of a sound Judgment in the Art a diligent Imitator of Lyly and very Fortunate in his Choice he is likewise very happy in taking the Likeness Mr. Henne is a very good Master in Landskip and Paints nearest of any to the Manner of the great Possine likewise Mr. Edema Paints Landskip very well especially his Waterfalls Mr. Hemskirk Paints Boor-Pieces after the manner of Brower and many of his Pictures may come in Computation with that great Master Mr. Vanderbank Paints a Face and Posture very well Landskip Foul c. extraordinary fine and is to be Rank'd amongst the great Masters of the Age. Mr. Jacob Wilson hath had a Reputation for Painting by the Life these many years in the City he Orders a whole Picture himself putting great Likeness in the Face and Gracefullness in the Posture Mr. William Wilson is the best Master we have in Painting Fowle Hares c. he hath extrordinary good Draught and Feathers his Birds very finely He hath been some time in Italy and a strickt Imitator of the greatest Masters there Several other good Masters we have which at present are not obvious to my Memory but after some time is design'd a Treatise containing the Characters of all the present Noted Artists in Europe both Painters and others where each will be discours'd on according to his Merrits and the Reputation he hath acquir'd in the World Those whom I have Mention'd may please to take Notice that I did not place them in order here according to the preference of one above another in merrit only as they at present occur'd to my Thoughts CAP. X. Of Proportion PRoportion is of two sorts either Proper Expressing the exact Proportion of the Thing to be Represented or else in Perspective in Respect of the Eye differing very much from the other for according to the Distance of the Thing from the Eye it Judgeth what Proportion the Head hath with the Body For should a Carver make a Statue according to true Proportion and place it on high he that below beholds it will judge it Disproportionable by Reason the upper Parts will come to the Eye in a Sharp Angle and the lower Parts in a Blunt The Philosophicall and Perspective Reason hereof is because when the Statue is in the open Air which being Transparent is fil'd with certain Visuall Species which coming into the Eye meet with those Visuall Lines which come in a Pyramidal Form whose Cone toucheth the Eye Therefore the Artist must carefully observe the Height he designs his work and accordingly add as much to the Upper Parts as the Distance will loose which Rules Phidias and Praxitiles exactly observ'd in their Statues in Monte Cavallo in Rome as likewise did the admirable workman of Trajans Colums and by this means the Eye soon judgeth of the Prototypon whom the work Represents which is the Intent of Painting and Carving It may be enquir'd what Proportion a moveable Picture should have I Answer it must always be suppos'd to hang something above the Eye since that Sence is most delighted to look upwards and hath been observ'd by all Great Masters So great is the Vertue of Proportion that nothing delighteth the Eye without it since the Grace of all Beautifull Forms consists in a Proportionable Measure of Parts and as Vitruvious saith that none can proceed with Judgment without Acquaintance with the Force thereof it giving the Majesty and Beauty to Bodys whence he calleth it Euritbmia It hath been of great Force in exciting Mens Minds to Reverence and Devotion witness the Statue of Jupiter Carv'd by Phidias and the great Zeuxe's perswaded Greece to dedicate their most Majestical and best Proportion'd works to the immortal Gods as being the works of Men Reputed amongst them as Gods and not only represented the works of God but likewise supply'd the Defects of Nature Nor does it only affect Painting but likewise