The Works of John Dryden, Volume XX: Prose 1691-1698 De Arte Graphica and Shorter Works

Observations on the Art of Painting

no Prose 1691-1698 AINTING and Poesy are two Sisters, &c. [^f i.] 'Tis a receiv'd truth, that the Arts have a certain relation to each other. There is no Art (said Tertullian in his Treatise of Idolatry ) which is not either the Father or the near Relation of another. And Cicero in his Oration for Archias the Poet, says, That the Arts which have respect to human life, have a kind of Alliance amongst themselves, and hold each other (as we may say) by 10 the hand. But those Arts which are the nearest related, and claim the most ancient Kindred with each other, are Painting and Poetry; and whosoever shall throughly examine them, will find them so much resembling one another, that he cannot take them for less than Sisters. They both follow the same bent, and suffer themselves rather to be carry'd away, than led by their secret Inclinations, which are so many seeds of the Divinity. There is a God within us (says Ovid in the beginning of his Sixth Book de Fastis, there speaking of the Poets) who by his Agitation warms us. And Suidas says, 20 That the famous Sculptor Phidias, and Zeuxis that incomparable Painter, were both of them transported by the same Enthusiasm , which gave life to all their works. They both of them aim at the same end, which is Imitation. Both of them excite our Passions; and we suffer our selves willingly to be deceiv'd, both by the one, and by the other; our Eyes and Souls are sofixt to them, that we are ready to persuade our selves that the painted 3 There] "There Q. 3-7 eachprinted italic line preceded by inverted double commas in Q. 4-5 Treatise of Idolatry] set in romans in Q. 7 Poet] Poet Q. 8-10 each printed italic line preceded by inverted double commas in Q. 11-14 Painting . .. Poetry ... Sisters] Painting ...Poetry . ..Sisters Q. 17 There] "There Q. 17-22 each printed italic line preceded by inverted double commas in Q. P Observations on the Art of Painting of Charles Alphonse du Fresnoy The Number at the head of every Observation serves to find in the Text the particularPas sage on which the Observation was made. De Arte Graphica 111 Bodies breath, and that the Fictions are Truths. Both of them are set on fire by the great Actions of Heroes; and both endeavour to eternize them: Both of them in short, are supported by the strength of their Imagination, and avail themselves of those licences, which Apollo has equally bestow'd on them, and with which their Genius has inspir'd them. Pictoribus atquePoetis Quidlibet audendi, semper fuit cequa potestas. Painters and Poets free from servile awe, 10 May treat their Subjects, and their Objects draw. As Horace tells us in his Art of Poetry. The advantage which Painting possesses above Poesie is this; That amongst so great a Diversity of Languages, she makes her self understood by all the Nations of the World; and that she is necessary to all other Arts, because of the need which they have of demonstrative Figures, which often give more Light to the Understanding than the clearest discourses we can make. Segnius irritant animos demissa per aurem, Quam qua sunt oculis commissa fidelibus. 20 Hearing excites the Mind by slow degrees, The Man is warm'd at once by what he sees. Horace in the same Art of Poetry. [f 9-] F°r both of them that they might contribute, &c. Poetry by its Hymns and Anthems, and Painting by its Statues, Altarpieces , and by all those Decorations which inspire Respect and Reverence for our Sacred Mysteries, have been serviceable to Religion. Gregory of Nice, after having made a long and beau6 Genius] Genius Q. 11 As] indented in Q. ii Art of Poetry] Art of Poetry Q. 12-14 Painting . . . Poesie . . . Languages . . . understood . . . Nations ofthe World] Painting . . . Poesie . . . Languages . . . understood . . . Nations ofthe World Q. 22 Horace] indented in Q. 22 Art of Poetry] Art of Poetry Q. 23-27 Poetry . . . Hymns . . . Anthems . . . Painting . . . Statues, Altar-pieces . . . those Decorations . . . Sacred Mysteries . . . Religion] Poetry . . . Hymns . . . Anthems . . . Painting . . . Statues, Altar-pieces . . . those Decorations . . . Sacred Mysteries .. .Religion Q. 112 Prose 1691—1698 tifull Description of A braham sacrificinghis Son Isaac,says these words, I have often cast my eyes upon a Picture, which represents this moving object, and could never withdraw them without...