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. VI. (Book 6)

The Objections against Painting Answar'd.

ONE Objection is, that 'tis a Mechanick Art, but I think this is made by those who are little Skil'd in Liberall Arts or Read in History; for in Greece it was rank'd amongst the First of Liberall Sciences, and throughout all Greece taught only to the Children of Noblemen, and altogether sorbidden to be taught to others.

Aristotle in his Politiques, accounteth it amongst those Liberalia Paideumata, and adviseth it especially to be taught to the Young Nobles, which after Eupompus a Famous Geometritian to his Utmost Incourag'd, and Plinie not only allows it a Liberal Science, but of the most Ornamentall for the great Oeconomists of the World, and excited the Romans to the Imbraces of it.

Besides as Painting is subordinate to the Perspectives, Natural Philosophy and Geometry (which doubtless are Liberal Sciences) and as it hath certain Demonstrable Conclusions, deduced from the first and immediate Principles thereof, shews of Necessity it must be esteem'd a Liberal Art.

That because it is work'd with the hand it must be a Mechanick Art, is a poor Argument, since without equal Labour of the hand, no Mathematical, Cosmographicall, Hydrographicall, &c. Demon∣strations can be perform'd, nor is it of more Labour then Writing and several Gentle Diversions: and he that despiseth the noblest Product of the Soul, because it requires the Assistance of the Hands for Demonstration, I think deserves not those usefull Members which he so foolishly Contemns.

Another Objection is, that it hath been the occasion of Idolatry, by the Pictures of Saints, &c. but that the Picture is the occasi∣on of the Idolatry is a mistake in the Hypothesis, for the cause of all Idolatry is either Error or Ignorance, and not through the Object of the Worship, for were the Object the Cause, we should Impeach the Wise Creator, for his best of Gifts the Sun, because the Pagans Worship it; and Esteem Onions and Garlick unlawfull food, because Ador'd by the Aegyptians.

As for the Pictures of Saints in Forreign Countrys, we must imagine them set up in Commemoration of those Saints, as seeing the Picture of my Friend makes me immediately Think of him; and I have more Charity then to think any, in this in∣lightned Age so profoundly Ignorant as to expect Succour from the Cloth and Colours, as to the Worship of the Saints them∣selves, nothing belongs to this Treatise, and we have Learned Divines enough to discuss the Controversy.

Some have Objected it hath been the Cause of much Leudness and Debauchery, by the many wanton Pictures have been con∣tinually Expos'd, as likewise Prints every where Obvious to Youth, and may the more affect them the more they Love the Art: I answer the Substances are as frequent and obvious in every street as the Shadows, and the Art of Painting is no more to be censur'd on a Lewd Design, then a Chast, Beautifull Virgin, on the Account of a Beautifull Leud Wench.

Others have thought it Unhealthfull because Sedentary, but it is not so Sedentary as some imagine, for not alone they may, but must walk often from the Picture, to Observe the Sympathy of the Dsign and Harmonious Union of Colours; and I have Known few afflicted with any thing but the Gout, which I suppose is more the Effects of Bacchanalizing then the Painting of Bacchanals.

Their Objection who despise it as a Daubing Exercise is not worth notice, since it is only a Slovens Argument, for they who are otherwise cleanly may be so in this, and more then in some Gentle Diversion, the Colours being to be bought ready prepar'd to the Pallat; nor of more notice is their Idle Objection, who say 'tis only a Fancy, and that there is no Intrinsick value in it; if what already hath been sayd of the Benefits thence arising will not satisfy, I shall desist a farther Answer till I hear an Ingenuous Man make the Objection, for as yet I have not heard any.