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How far Painting agrees with Carving, and wherein it Excels it.
THere hath been a continual Altercation between Painters and Carvers for Superiority in the Excellency of Art: but that Carvers may not pretend to excel Painters in the Essential part we will lay down how far they agree and then wherein the Carvers are Excel'd.
It is a General Rule, what agree in a Third agree between Themselves, if it be objected a Hank and a Hound are the same by this Rule, because both living Creatures; it followeth not, for though they agree in the Generallity of being living Creatures, yet they differ in Speciality of Kinde.
And as there is no Essential difference between two particular Men, both being Rational Creatures, so there is not between Painting and Carving, for both tend to the same End, by Representing Individual Substances; and both must observe the same Geometrical Quantity in what they Represent.
Suppose a Painter and Carver were to Counterfeit the same Person, doubtless both would conceive the same Idea of him, proceeding in their Minds with the same discourse of Reason and Art, and (as before) observe the same Geometrical Quantity, endeavouring to make it as like the Person they Represent as they could: and so the Draught expressing the Idea's of both the Workmen, would agree in expressing the true Resemblance, which is the Essence of this Art.
Tis true one Painteth and the other Carveth; but this is a Material Difference only, which argues no Specisical Difference in Art or Science, and it is the Essential Difference alone that maketh a Distinction of Species and Diversity of Science.
If it be Objected that the Carver maketh more of the Figure then the Painter, it is answer'd, more or less makes no Spe∣cifical or Proper Difference; therefore it is the Defect of Matter, and not of Art, thus far the Arts are Analogical.
Now that this Art far Excels Carving is easily Demonstrated, since on a Flat, it Represents Roundness and Thickness, exceed∣ing therein the Power of Nature it self, expressing Life and Spi∣rit far beyond Carving, as in these Instances.
Apelles Painted Alexander the Great so to the Life, that his Horse Bucephalus brought into the Room, immediately kneeld down supposing it his Master: His Horse he likewise Painted with such Spirit that other Horses began to Neigh, when they saw him.
Andreas Mantegna represented a Servant in Porta Vercellina, so Natural, that the Horses left not Kicking at it till there was no shape of a Man left.
Barnazano Represented Strawberrys on a wall so fine, that the Peacocks continually pect at them; and Caesar Sestius Painted in a Piece, Birds, so to the Life, that the Table set abroad, they brought Flocks of other Birds about them: and 'tis Re∣ported there was a Dragon Painted with such Spirit in the Trium∣virate in Rome, that made the Birds leave singing.
A Picture likewise was in Claudius's Theater, where the Tiles were so Naturally Painted, that the Crows offer'd to fly through the Painted windows.
Zeuxes's story is well Known, by the Grapes which Invited Birds to them: though himself was afterwards deceiv'd, by a Curtain done by Parrhasius in Emulation of his Grapes.
Live Partridges have flown to the Painted ones done by Par∣rhasius upon a Column at Rhodes. A Dog likewise defac'd the Picture of a Dog done by Gaudentius in a Picture of Christ carry∣ing the Cross at Canobium. But these are all trivial Things in respect of the Passions and Affections, in which it far Excels Carving: since to most Passions is required a Change of Com∣plection, as well as Destortion, Contraction &c. of Features.
A Venus cannot be made with that Allectation in Carving, since the Complection of the skin, with Colour of Eyes, Hair, &c. are requisite to the Perfection of a Beauty.
Nor can History be Carv'd without great Defects, since all Distances require a Faintness of Colouring, as well as Diminution of Body: with many more Observations in Nature, onely Ob∣vious to Colouring, of absotute Necessity for the Animating of Figures.
Not that I would the least Detract from those Famous Ar∣tists who have obtain'd to themselves a lasting Name; but think they more deserve to be worship'd for Gods, then the Gods which were the works of their Hands.