PAINTING.
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yellow, red, and black, with which he is reported to havemade the most beautiful productions.
The restorer of this delightful art in Europe, was Cimabue ,a native of Italy , who first studied under some Grecian artists,and furnished some admirable productions in fresco in severalItalian churches, about the period of the renovation of thearts in modern Italy . Since which time, this purelv intel-lectual art has been successfully cultivated in almost allcountries in Europe , certain masters in all the schools ofwhich have been eminent for some peculiar excellencv.
An analogy by comparison has been drawn between thefascinating elfect of music on the ear and colour on the eye,wherein it is observed the comparison very nearly approxi-mates; whence the term harmony, applied to the former, maycorrectly and with singular propriety he used when speakingof the latter. And also, it is said, for the same reason andproceeding upon the like analogy, the term tone is alsoapplicable to both: they are accordingly used indiscrimi-nately. Without questioning their propriety, we give in toour sensations, and as far as our judgment goes, believethey are not improperly introduced into the pictural art.
It cannot be presumed that we should have the temerityto aspire to the task of giving a full and complete descrip-tion of every variety which constitutes perfection in theart; for this would be to infer professional ability equal, or,perhaps, superior to what any one individual ever wasknown to possess. Besides this inference, another must bepresumed, because perfection in description must also anti-cipate the most delicate, refined, and, as termed, classicallycorrect taste; neither to these do we assume the possessionof such well known essentials as are positively necessary toits formation. It is, besides, altogether difficult, as theworld acknowledges, to fix a standard to the ideal faculty,of taste, and which we have before had occasion to notice.
To attain the previously enumerated essential requisites,the longest life, the best professional education, and themost ample means of obtaining every information on thesesubjects, would be scarcely sufficient. Also when we consi-der that whatever can be said upon these subjects, hasbeen already so much better given by others, whom thepublic have already before them ; that the observations wehave already made shall suffice for the present occasion.