DEDICATION.

Vll

and Taste, and the best Models for perfection-ating them J. Cicero , who appears by many

of his Letters to Atticus and other Friends, andindeed throughout all his Writings to havebeen an equally knowing and warm Lover ofthe fine Arts, and of all polite Learning, asas well as deeply vers’d in the more abstruse andprofound Sciences, inveighs with greatWarmth and Eloquence, on several Occasions,against the Iniquity and Inhumanity of those,whose Fortunes enabled them to make Col-lections of Antiquities, if they did not allow themost favourable and gracious Admittance toall to study them, who were capable of being in-structed by them, or making useful Reflexionsupon them : And he often lays it down as asure Mark and Characteristick by which onewho was prompted by intelligent Love of Artsand Letters, and guided by good Taste in pur-chasing their best Productions., might be distin-guished

^ Pliny ibidem. He has several Phrases to the fame Purpose, whichare very strong, ingenia hominum rempublicam fecit , speaking ofthe publick Library, established by Ajinius Pollio. See what he says

of M. Varro , BenigniJJimo invento , inventor muneris etiam Diis

invidiofi , &c. Speaking of the ancient Greek Painters, he fays, om-nium eorum ars urbibus accubabat , piSiorque res communis terrarimsuit. Speaking of Fabulus a Roman Painter he calls Nero’s Palace,Career ejus artis. Several Passages of Cicero in the same Strain, arequoted in tire Discourse on the Gallery of Yerres.