The anatomy and philosophy of expression as connected with the fine arts / by Sir Charles Bell.

  • Bell, Charles, Sir, 1774-1842.
Date:
1847
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: The anatomy and philosophy of expression as connected with the fine arts / by Sir Charles Bell. Source: Wellcome Collection.

Provider: This material has been provided by Royal College of Physicians, London. The original may be consulted at Royal College of Physicians, London.

    18/302 (page 4)
    but the power of execution depends on deeper sources. In reading Vasari, we arc struck by the difficulties with which the famous painters had to struggle. There is hardly one of them who had not to combat parental authority before obtaining leave to give up his days to painting ; nor is it surprising that there should be an unwillingness to permit a youth to dedicate his life to an art so little gainful, where extraordinary excellence alone obtains notice, and hardly ever an adequate reward. I speak of the higher department of art. Much has been done at home by the force of genius alone. Our native artists have vindicated us from the aspersion of Winckelman, that genius for the fine arts is stinted in these northern climes,—a notion which has prevailed so extensively, as even to have influenced our own Milton :— “ Unless an age too late, or cold Climate, or years, damp my intended wing.” In his history of ancient art, Winckelman seems to attri- bute all to climate ; not only the perfection of form in the inhabitants of Greece, but their serenity of mind, sweetness, and love of beauty. Such a theory would imply that the people of Sparta and Athens were characterized by the same qualities. But when Sparta triumphed, it was in pride and rapacity. Neither the general intercourse between nations, nor commerce, nor intellectual nor moral excellence, derived any benefit from her ascendancy * Athens was the mistress of the world ; and she has left examples of the greatest virtues and excellence in philosophy, eloquence, poetry, and art: vet she has also shown humiliating instances of tyranny, ' «/ * Arnold’s “ History of Rome.”