The painting of the ancients in three bookes: declaring by historicall observations and examples, the beginning, progresse, and consummation of that most noble art. And how those ancient artificers attained to their still so much admired excellencie. Written first in Latine by Franciscus Junius, F.F. And now by him Englished, with some additions and alterations.

CHAP. VII.

COnstant Emulators in the meane time, expres∣sing prosperously the sayd simplicitie of the ancient Art, felt their mindes withall filled with the sweet contentment of what they did: wondering therefore at the strange ef∣fects of such plaine workmanship, they could not choose but chearefully pursue the same way of Art. It is more de∣lightfull to an Artificer, sayth Seneca , to paint, then to have done painting: our sollicitude, as long as shee busieth her selfe about the worke, taketh a singular great pleasure in the occupa∣tion it selfe: he is nothing neere so much delighted, that hath al∣readie

accomplished the worke: for he doth now enjoy the fruit of his Art; whereas before, whilest he did paint, he enjoyed the Art it selfe. The youthfull yeares of our children are more bene∣ficiall and profitable, but their infancie for all that is a great deale sweeter. Plutarch giveth us a lively example of the pleasure a working Artificer enjoyeth; as many as love to paint, sayth he , are so taken with the goodly shew of their workes in hand, that Nicias, when he made a picture famous by the name Necya, did often aske his servants whether he had dined? His mind forsooth fed upon the study of his worke, finding greater dainties in that contemplation, then in any other banquet whatsoever. I have seene Painters doe their worke, sayth Libanius , singing. Neither doth it deserve any admiration that they should worke with so much ease, see∣ing the workman is still refreshed and encouraged by the spirit infused into him by an unexpected successe, bestirring himselfe as if the things themselves and not the images were a-doing: there is every where nothing but life and motion; so are also these new upgrowing things entertained with a great deale of favour and sollicitude, sayth Quintilian . This same favour also together with the conceived hope conducing to the fertilitie of our wit, sayth Lucan. carm. ad Pisonem.

§ 2. As many then as doe wonder at and deride the in∣defatigable and vehement fervencie great wits doe use a∣bout the workes of art, have never loved any thing worth studie and care; neither have they so much as understood that our better and more divine part, if it be not altogether base and degenerate, is nourished or rather feasted with ho∣nest and delectable labours, even from our tender child∣hood. We doe see therefore how little children themselves can∣not rest, sayth Tullie , and as they grow more in yeares, they love so well to be alwayes in action, that they can hardly be

beaten from laborious and toilesome playes: so doth also this desire of doing alwayes something, still encrease with their ages. It is then evident that we are borne to doe alwayes something: see also Seneca, epist. 39.

§ 3. And in good truth, what shall we say to this? can there be any so great contentment in the possession of a vast and endlesse estate, in the enjoying of all kinde of pleasures and delights, as to see men of great places and authoritie, that live in great abundance and plentie, and doe not want the good will of the world, assemble themselves together and make a ring about the astonished Artificer? who being thus graced by most eminent persons, how do all other men upon any occasion accompany him? What shew doth he make in publike places? what veneration doth he finde in the assemblies of men of good note? how sensible is he of the joyes that doe tickle his heart when he seeth the eyes of all men with a silent admiration fixed upon him alone? when he perceiveth that his name is one of the first names parents acquaint their children with? when he findeth that the unlearned and carelesse multitude hath got his name, and telleth it one to another at his going by? country peo∣ple also and strangers having heard of him in the places of their abode, as soone as they come to Towne, enquire for him first of all, desirous to see the face of him they heard so much of: any wit almost may be enflamed, sayth Ovid , by the applause and cheerfull favour of the people.

§ 4. But why should I reckon up these ordinarie joyes, that lie open also to the eyes of ignorant men, seeing there are secret delights of greater moment, felt and knowne by none but the Artificer himselfe? for when he publisheth an accurat and well be laboured worke, the sound and solid joy conceived out of the absolutenesse of the worke hath as

well a certaine weight and durable constancie, as the work it selfe; when he bringeth on the contrary a sudden and halfe polished worke to the view of the world, the anguish and perplexitie of his timorous minde doth commend the good successe the more unto him, so that he doth most heartily embrace the pleasure of his fortunate boldnesse. And how is it possible, I pray you, that such an Artificer should not thinke himselfe a most happie man, which upon a just affiance of his vertues knoweth himselfe to be lifted up above the reach of envie, where he standeth secure of his fame; enjoying in this life, as if he were now alreadie consecrated unto eternitie, the veneration that is like to follow him after his death: it is a most comfortable thing to have a fore-feeling of what we hope to attaine unto, sayth the younger Plinie : so sayth also Latinus Pacatus, the flitting pleasure of sudden successes, sayth he , as it taketh us, so doth it leave us: it is a longer felicitie when we are secure of what we expect: neither have some great Masters in old times de∣dicated their best workes at Delphis in the temple of Apollo with any other intent, but that they should in their life time preoccupie a lively feeling of an everlasting name. Those that have hung up unto the Gods great donaries, sayth Libani∣us , passe the rest of their time with a great deale of pleasant∣nesse, as having now in their daily conversation some fine thing of their owne to relate: yea if they had many other things to say that might make them famous, yet would they goe by all the rest, and boast most confidently that they doe not feare to be buried in oblivion, seeing their worke remaineth in the finest place under the Sunne: neither doth this confidence de∣ceive them; for whosoever doth shew the study of his minde in places of great resort, procureth unto himselfe an ever∣lasting glorie: such is, in my opinion, the case of those

Painters, who have consecrated the wisdome of their hands at Delphis.

Notes

• Epistolà 9.
• Inlibello cui titulus, Non p••sse suaviter vivi secūdùm Epicurum.
• Declamat. VI.
• Lib. X. c. 1.
• Lib. V. de Finibus bon. & malo∣rum.
• Lib. III. de Ponto, Eleg. 4.
• Lib. IV. ep. 15.
• Panegyr. Theodosio Aug. dicto.
• In Antio∣chico.