Characteristics of Men of Genius Volume 2; Sir Walter Scott. Wordsworth. the Poets of Germany. Michael Angelo. Canova. Machiavelli. Louis the Ninth. P (Paperback)

This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1847 Excerpt: ...precepts, rules are well enough in their place, but example is far more valuable. It is my profession to work as well as I can, not to lecture; nor would I for treasures, take upon myself the task of arguing with irritable pedants." He said, also, that he did not confide in his own judgment, as to the value of his observations; he knew only that they were " dictated by the intimate feeling of art, by meditation bent constantly upon it, and, finally, the mistress experience;" that he had no pretensions which justified his imposing his opinion on others, but could only offer it for the private judgment of each hearer. Let the reader, then, receive the following remarks as they were made, as familiar talk of the artist with the friends who loved him, and, if awake to such sympathies, or with a mind exercised on such topics, he will scarcely fail to derive instruction and pleasure from the gentle flow of earnest thought, and the air of delicacy and retirement in the mind of the thinker. We are with him in the still cool air of the studio, blocks of marble lie around, grand in their yet undisclosed secret, and the forms of nymphs and heroes inform the walls with their almost perfected beauty. The profound interpretations of a poetic soul, weaving into new forms the symbols of nature, and revealing her secret by divine re-creation, will not there be felt; the thoughts of this sculptor are only new readings of the text, faithful glosses in the margin, but, as such, in themselves refined, and for us, in a high degree, refining and suggestive. Genius must congratulate herself on so faithful a disciple, though he be not a son, but a minister only of her royal house; and Art, having poured forth her gifts, must be grateful to one who knew so well how to...