The Works of William Hogarth; Including the Analysis of Beauty and Five Days' Peregrination Volume 7
Category: Books
The Works of William Hogarth; Including the Analysis of Beauty and Five Days' Peregrination Volume 7 Details
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. 1900 edition. Excerpt: ...perfections of it beyond the appearance of common sense and placidity. Deportment, words, and actions must speak the good, the wise, the witty, the humane, the generous, the merciful, and the brave. Nor are gravity and solemn looks always signs of wisdom. The mind much occupied with trifles will occasion as grave and sagacious an aspect, as if it was charged with matters of the utmost moment. The balance-master's attention to a single point, in order to preserve his balance, may look as wise at that time as the greatest philosopher in the depth of his studies. All that the ancient sculptors could do, notwithstanding their enthusiastic endeavors to raise the characters of their deities to aspects of sagacity above human, was to give them features of beauty. Their god of wisdom hath no more in his look than a handsome manliness; the Jupiter is carried somewhat higher, by giving it a little more severity than the Apollo, by a larger prominency of brow gently bending in seeming thoughtfulness, with an ample beard, which, being added to the noble quantity of its other lines, invests that capital piece of sculpture with uncommon dignity, which, in the mysterious language of a profound connoisseur, is styled "a divine idea, inconceivably great, and above nature." Thirdly and lastly, I shall show in what manner the lines of the face alter from infancy upward, and specify the different ages. We are now to pay most attention to simplicity, as the difference of ages we are about to speak of turns chiefly upon the use made of this principle in a greater or less degree, in the form of the lines. From infancy till the body has done growing, the contents both of the body and the face, and every part of their surface, are daily changing into more variety, till...
Reviews
