The works of the late Professor Camper, on the connexion between the science of anatomy, and the art of drawing, painting, statuary, &c., &c. / translated from the Dutch by T. Cogan, M.D.

  • Petrus Camper
Date:
1794
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: The works of the late Professor Camper, on the connexion between the science of anatomy, and the art of drawing, painting, statuary, &c., &c. / translated from the Dutch by T. Cogan, M.D. Source: Wellcome Collection.

Provider: This material has been provided by The University of Glasgow Library. The original may be consulted at The University of Glasgow Library.

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    the mind ; but it does not indicate in what beauty confifts; or propofe rules by which we may trace or produce it in the figure of objects. I have examined the works of Natter, Mariette, and the cabinet of the Duke of Orleans; and in all of thefe I have remarked Manner, and alfo a deficiency of that tadl which it is the object of thefe works to infpire. Even Winkelman is deftitute of it in execution. So difficult is it to catch the Ipirit of the antients, as long as the caufes of their excellent cies are not inveftigated, and reduced to principles. Although Albert Durer was in reality a great mailer (and when we advert to the age in which he flourifhed, we mufl allow him to have poffefTed extraordinary merit) yet he has laid the foundation of a bad tafle, which has diffufed itfelf all over Europe, not excepting Italy ; and which continues to exert its pernicious influence ; as is manifeft from Lomazzo, who follows him implicitly, excepting in the do&rine of mu- fical harmony being applicable to painting. It is alio obvi- ous that Lomazzo has confulted Vompomus Ganricus de Sculp- tura, and Dolce, as well as A. Durer. Blind at thirty years of age, this man was obliged to feek a fubfiftence by his writings. Hence his numerous publications; mofl: of which treat upon the fame fubje£ts. With what perfpicuity he de- fines the beautiful 1 II bello per cofi dires non e hello, che par la.Jola Jua hellezza #. « The beautiful, fo to exprefs myfelf, f Trattalo della Pittura. 1584. pag. 196.
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