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.

CAP. V. (Book 5)

That this Art is Requisite to the Education of a Gentleman, from the Benefits and Pleasures thence arising.

THE more Noble any Science is, certainly the more Essen∣tiall it is to the Qualification of a Noble-Man; that this is such, is already prov'd from its Antiquity, its several Honoura∣ble Proffessors, with the Reception it hath had beyond all Arts in the World; and in its own Nature being the most Lauda∣ble, since of all Arts it nearest Imitates (by continuall Copying after) the wonderfull Hand of the Omnipotent.

What can become a Gentleman more then to talk Pertinent∣ly of so Ingenious a Science, and which he hath continually before his Eyes, when without a Judgment in it, he shall (by mis∣placing Proper Terms) be the Jest of those, whose greater skill will not excuse their ill manners herein. Besides, this be∣ing the greatest Ornament for Pallaces and Noblest Seats, it prevents their being impos'd upon in Pieces of Value, which they often suffer to great loss, though to the Infamy of those Mercenary Men who are guilty of the Imposition.

It is the greatest Complement, Convenience, as well as Companion for Gentlemen that Travel, to take a Draught of all Remarkable Things and Places, &c. which would be too great a Charge for the narrow Treasury of the Memory.

It's of absolute Necessity for all Commanders, for the Design∣ing Fortifications, Drawing of Lines, &c. and greatly assistant to the study of the Mathematicks.

Here they may see and Learn how their Predecessours Accu∣mulated their Glorys, and Learn to Emulate the Grandeur of their Actions, that like them they may be Transmitted (by some Artfull Hand) to Posterity.

The Practice of this Art not only raises the Fancy, but makes it Pregnant to the Production of still more great Idea's, Pressing on to the Mount of Perfection, where with pitty they behold the rest of Mankinde below.

And had not those Celebrated Wits both Painters and Poets, whose Contemplative heads were Replenisht with a continuall Esslux of Notions, by this or Poetry found a sweet discharge of their Crouded Fancy, either being to big to pass through the Nar∣row Avenues of Common Sence, they had burst forth in disorder without Maturity, and so become but Distracted and Confus'd Notions; or else being Forcibly pent in, had stifled in their own Croud, and so have perisht, shut up in the Urn of the Brain to all Eternity, to the Dishonour of Him who bestow'd these Gifts for the Manifestation of his Glory, and the Benefit of Mankinde.

The Pleasures arising from this Art, are Ineffable, and on that Account deserve a Gentlemans study, since it is better to be Happy, then simply to Be. For by this may you Form an Elizium to the height of your Fancy, beyond the Product of Nature and Equall to the Fictions of the Poets.

Imbroider'd Feilds, Groves Damask'd with bright Beams. Banks all Enameld, and Transparent Streams.

Hereby within your Chamber may you see Majestick Hills, Humble Vallyes, Delightfull Groves, silent Grotto's, Delicious Plains. Nimphs, Fawns, Satyrs, Driades, &c. sporting toge∣ther, the state of Innocence and the Golden Age.

Nor can we only Create Worlds Replenisht with Beatitudes, to the highest Injoyment of the Noblest Sence the Sight, but likewise so Potent are the Charmes of this Art, that it often brings the Seraphick and Blest Souls from their sacred Mansions to Converse with Mortals below; here to React their great Sufferings and Martyrdoms, that by observing their Footsteps, we (imp'd on the wings of Vertue) may mount to their Coelestial Thrones, there to Injoy the Beatifick Vision in those Feilds of Light.

That after the Contemplation of the Wonderfull Beautys here below, we there may behold the Sacred great Source of them all, there wishing for a Pencel Omnipotent, as the Hand which Form'd those Ravishing Delights, to Copy out those blest Abodes, the meanest place whereof is beyond Mortal Tongue to Express, or the highest Rapture of Thought but to aim at.

Nor only to Incourage to Vertue, but likewise to deter from Vice, this Art hath furnisht us with Scenes of Horrour, Rapes, Murders, &c. that from the Terrour of such spectacles, we may detest the Actions as Repugnant to Humanity.

Nay sometimes it opens the Adamantine Gates of the Black Abbiss, the seat of Profound though Fiery Darkness, save that the livid Flames serve to discover those Souls, whose sins (weigh∣ty as the massy Plumets of Eternall Night) have sunk them to those Stygian Abodes.

Amongst the Number there you may justly express in some Common shoar, Replete with Assa Faetida, a sneaking Tribe of narrow Souls, the Contemners of this Art, who Murmuring and Repining at the Munificence of the Deity, Grudge that he should receive any Glory from this his best of Gifts.

But should I sum up all the Benefits and Pleasures according to their vast Extent it would swell up a great Volume, nor can it be expected I should Abridge in a few sheets, what lyes in a Book (of so Beautifull a Character) Expanded over great part of the Universe.