The Literary Works of Sir Joshua Reynolds; ... to Which Is Prefixed, a Memoir of the Author; With Remarks on His Professional Character, Illustrative of His Principles and Practice (Paperback)

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. 1852 edition. Excerpt: ... the same as in my sketch, except that he kneels instead of standing. In the church of St. Pierre are some pictures of the old masters; one said to be of Quintin Matsys; another, about the same age, representing some Saint, who appears to refuse a mitre, which is placed before him; a composition of near an hundred figures, many in good attitudes, natural and weD invented. It is much more entertaining to look at the works of these old masters, than slight common-place pictures of many modern painters. CHARACTER OF RUBENS. The works of men of genius alone, where great faults are united with great beauties, afford proper matter for criticism. Genius is always eccentric, bold, and daring; which, at the same time that it commands attention, is sure to provoke criticism. It is the regular, cold, and timid composer, who escapes censure, and deserves no praise. The elevated situation on which Rubens stands in the esteem of the worla is alone a sufficient reason for some examination of his pretensions. His fame is extended over a great part of the Continent, without a rival: and it may be justly said that he has enriched his country, not in a figurative sense only, by the great examples of art which he left, but by what some would think a more solid advantage, the wealth arising from the concourse of strangers whom his works continually invite to Antwerp, which would otherwise have little to reward the visit of a connoisseur. To the city of Dusseldorp he has been an equal benefactor. The gallery of that city is considered as containing one of the greatest collections of pictures in the world; but if the works of Rubens were taken from it, I will venture to assert, that this great repository would be reduced to at least half its value. To extend...