The art of painting according to the theory and practise of the best Italian, French, and Germane masters. Treating of the antiquity of painting. The reputation it always had. The characters of several masters. Proportion. Action and passion. The effects of light. Perspective. Draught. Colouring. Ordonnance. Far more compleat and compendious then hath yet been publisht by any, antient or modern. The second edition. By M.S. gent.

INTRODUCTION.

SInce the design of the Following Treatise is not only to lay open the Noble Art of Painting, to give the best Precepts and Instructions to attain to a Perfection therein, but like∣wise to recommend the study of it to the most Ingenious, as highly conducing (from the many Pleasures and Benefits thence arising) to a Happy state of Life: give me leave by way of Introduction to shew what I mean by a Happy state of Life, and wherein Painting is highly Accessary thereunto.

The All-Wise having Created the Soul of Man not onely Speculative, but of a Vast Unlimited Capacity, hath likewise Adapted Fruitions thereto as Unlimited; fixing in him the Standard of Reason to Regulate them thereby, for his Real Happiness.

And although the Pleasures and Satisfactions of the Mind, Excell the Gratifications of the Sences, as far as the Soul in Dig∣nity surpasseth the Body, and distinguisheth Man from Beasts, yet some there are more Refin'd, Spiritual and Extasy'd then others, striking upon the most Harmonious Keys of the Soul; and such are the Objects of the two Noble Facultys of the Mind, Conception, and Invention; best Illustrated in Painting, Poetry and Musick.

Poetry by the Force of the most Allective Ratiocination, Charmes the Mind with the Real Essences of Delight; not onely by pleasing the Eare with Dulcisonant Numbers, but likewise by Informing the Soul, in the Expansion of the most Abstruse and Occult Misterys of Philosophy; conducting us thereby through Feilds of Delight, to the Magnificent Seats of Vertue and Knowledge.

Musick Refines and rayses the Spirits, above all the Gross, Mundane Pleasures, which Attend the Avenues of common sence: Replenishing the Fancy with the most Beautiful Idea's, and Se∣raphick Raptures of Bliss, and giving us here a Tast of those Flouds of Immence Delight, Prepar'd for such Harmonious Souls,

(who despising the Insipid and Imperfect Joys, swallowed down with Greediness, by the Inconsiderate Herd of Mankind) adapt themselves for those Immortal Pleasures.

But Painting not onely Allures and Delights with the Charm∣ing Numbers and Noble Information of Poetry; with the sweet Unisons and Ravishing Harmony of Musick; but likewise brings from their several Orbes, the Great Monopolists of these Sciences for us to Converse with, and by every artfull stroak adds to the Erection of her own Monument, to the Delight and Instruction of the present and future Ages: thus he who is not Felicify'd with the Fruition of these Three Beatitudes, enjoys the Perfecti∣on of them all, in this one Charming Mistress.

They whose Minds are Fortunate through these Exornations, with what contempt may they look on those Muddy and Fulsome Pleasures which most of Mankinde Grovel in, and are known to be Pleasures onely by the Name, not onely being Narrow, Forc'd and Feign'd, but Proditorious and Exitial instead of being Benificiall to Humane Existence.

When in the Heat of Bacchanalization, the Virtigious Brain formes to it self strange Chymera's which never were nor can be, one Notion Crouding on another, till the Noble seat of the Intellects becomes an entire Chaos, and he the Ridicule or Pity of the more thinking; how Fond and Vain is he, how Derogatory to the Noble Character he bears, and his pretensions to the Image of the Deity: whilst his Purchace is a few dizzy, confus'd Pleasures, at the Expence and Ruine of Mind and Body.

Nor more Rational is he who expects an Elizium of Com∣pleat Happiness in his Mistresses Armes, since it is generally ex∣perienc'd that the Phantastick Pleasure of the Attempt, is more then that of the Fruition, which at best is but Fleeting and Mo∣mentary, whilst the Enjoyments of the Mind are Fixt and Per∣manent; Those attended with Remorse, Danger and Disap∣pointment, These with Tranquility, security and Certainty; be∣sides how Inglorious is it for Man, to Prostrate his Affections and most studyed Herangues to one Incapable of Return (perhaps) a Mercenary Gilt, the Product of a Dunghil, who will sell at Cheaper Rates, or Lavish those Pleasures on a Lusty Groom, which his Master Purchases with vast Sums and humble Ac∣knowledgements,

selling his Prerogative and Health for a smile and a Disease.

So far from Real Felicity are all Sensual Pleasures, that in them we are but weaker Rivals to Brutes, who injoy all their Sensualitys with better Appetites and quicker Rellish; free from Remorse and Scandal.

And although all Humane Happyness is Lodg'd in the Soul, yet even their we must be Cautious in our Choice of Affections and Passions, or we may be as miserable deceiv'd, as if we gave the Reines to Sensuality.

How far does he Deviate, who expects this Blessed State in Honour and Greatness, since Ambition onely begets Ambition, Changing alone the Matter of their Miseries, without seeking an End of them: and as Seneca says, those Acquisitions which dazel the Eyes of the Vulgar, are Atchived with Labour, and guarded with Pain: nor will this Sisiphus's stone ever Rest, till at the Bottom of the Valley, where the Master is crush'd to Peices thereby.

How miserable the Covetous wretch is, is too Obvious to require Refutation; so far is Gold from giving Happiness, that Apicius, although he had the Remain of 250000 Crowns in his Coffers, yet he Poyson'd himself for Fear of Starving; nor could Midas be satisfy'd, till the waters of Pactolus Condens'd to a Golden Mine, in his Belly.

Allthough this spacious Theater affords dayly, Numerous sceens of the wretched Mistakes of Mankinde, yet still the Gene∣rallity of them give themselves wholly to the Dictates of Sence, and when they feel the sad Effects, they Fancy is some Destined Distemper: or if they have thought enough to consider the Cause, they Endeavour to drive it away by the Repetition of the same: and so pass on, till a painfull Old-Age (if Attainable) steales on them; and then when their Appetites fail, they have leisure to cast a Melancholly Aspect on their Prestine Folly; seeing their Lamp ready to go out, like a Foolish Tale that is told; without one Act of Remark or Benefit to themselves, or the rest of Mankinde: and finding no Reason for their Continuation to Old Age, except to be punish'd for the Follys of their Youth.

Whilst he who spends his Time in the Noble study of Philo∣sophy; the Forementioned Sciences, or the like Ingenuous, Be∣neficial and Innocent Pleasures, sees Cause enough to Laugh at their Youth and pity their Age: And finds to his great Comfort, the Munificence of the Deity sufficient, if Man but makes the Hap∣py Choice, to give him Felicity in both Worlds.

Since then (as we have shown) the Noblest Injoyment ariseth from the Choicest Idea's of the Mind, Especially when they tend, not onely to the Delighting, but also to the Improving of Man∣kinde; we thought it might be no unacceptable service, to Anato∣matize the Art of Painting, from whence such Variety of Plea∣sures and Benefits may be reap'd.