The Study of the Human Face; Illustrated by Twenty-Six Full-Page Steel Engravings (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. 1865 Excerpt: ...the superfine address of "My Lard" and "My Lard's" acquiescence in in it, nor their court costume, and habit of looking more like each other than there is any occasion for, can avail them out of the Court; nor, indeed, any of the imaginary advantages they think they possess over those who would rather have their gowns than their abilities. There is nothing which has such a tendency to disfigure or discolour the form and complexion of the sister arts as Affectation; for how easily can we imagine an affected artist congratulating himself upon a subject whose turn of features may be exactly after his turn of mind No wonder at their pleasing rivalry to do the utmost for each other, and the mutual strife as to which of their arts shall most successfully triumph over the ordinary expressions of Nature. It is seldom, however, such experiments fail--that is, at making the parties appear as ridiculous as they deserve--and it is only for the quiet spectators of such interesting exhibitions fully to appreciate their separate efforts, or to pronounce upon their absurdity. Then, 'tis who best divides the palm As masters of grimace; Who draws the features out of form, Or twists them out of place. It would appear, then, that Affectation is seen as much through the medium of men's productions as in the men themselves. The painter's attempt to remodel Nature generally ends in unmaking himself: the "racy poet," as he is called, may not be aware that by his riotous effusions he looks worse in print than out of it: and when our musical compositions, or rather complications, are affectedly carried out by the drawling conceits of some violin performers, they make the instrument whine in such a manner as to be in danger of having the old nursery thr...