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. XVI. (Book 16)

Precepts for the Expressing of Action and Passion.

ANger, the Motions of the Body must be strong and quick, all the parts stir'd, the Eye wild and Sparkling, the Nostrels open, the Point of the Eye-brows fixt towards the Nose, the Corners of the Mouth a little open and Foaming, the Mus∣cles pust up, the Veins swell'd, the Hair standing up.

The Subjects for such Expression may be, Moses when he broke the Tables of the Law; Tydaeus, who Dying bit the Head of Menalippus; Alexander when he slew Callisthenes; the Roman Sylla, Valentinian, Hungar, &c.

Cruelty, with Passion and Motion as before, but more Furious and Violent, in Eager, Importunate and Bitter Actions.

The Subjects, Zenaeheribs Sons, who slew their Father be∣fore the Alter; Abimeleck, who slew his Seventy Brethren;

Mithridates who on the Receipt of a Letter caus'd 80000 Ro∣mans to be slain; likewise Archelaus, Phalaris, Medea, Scyron, Dionysius, Crion, Cyrus, Herod, Procrustes, Mezentius, Tam∣berlain the Tartorian, Attyla, Barbarossa; but more especially in the Jews towards our Saviour, where may be Express'd the Spurning, Buffetting, their Disdain, Scorn, Contempt, the out∣rages of their Cords, Crowning with Thorns, their Deriding, Spitting, Whipping, Pointing, his Carrying the Cross, Peir∣cing his Hands Side and Feet, Drinking of Gall, Opening his Side with a Spear, the Repulse of the Blessed Mary; and to make the Cruelty the more Horrid and Detestable, to observe his Sa∣cred Sufferance, Gracious and Pittying Looks and Divine Pa∣tience.

Sadness, their Motions Heavy, Pensive and Sorrowfull; the Head Carelesly hanging aside, the Forehead wrincled, the Eyes half shut, the Mouth a little open, the Corners downwards, the Nostrels swel'd, the under Lip pouting and drawn back.

The Subjects, Adam and Eve upon their Fall, Agar with Child thrust out by Abraham; Peter after his Denyal, &c.

Envy causeth a Man to draw back his Limbs, pluck in and in a manner shadow his Eye-lids, wry his Mouth, grinde his Teeth, biting his Finger, turning himself with a Passionate Look, as prying into other Mens Affairs.

The Subjects Cain seeing his Brothers Sacrifice more accep∣table then his; Culianus, who seeing his Rival in Honour, pre∣fer'd, caus'd the Bridge to be broak as they were passing over though with certain Ruine to himself; likewise the Divels coun∣tenance when he Tempted Eve.

Covetousness hath Restrain'd and Catching Actions, drawing in the Hands and Arms, Pensive, Clitching the Thumb between the Fingers, &c.

The Subjects, Crassus; Polymnestor, when he Murder'd Pri∣ams Son, for his Treasure; Tantalus at the Banquet of the Gods, who serv'd up his own Son Pelops in stead of Meat; Mi∣das, Aglaurus, &c.

Love causeth a Dilation in all Parts of the Face, the Fore∣head smooth and even, the Eye-brows to rise in the middle, the Eyes half open and Smiling, the Apple of the Eye Spark-

and Moist, the Cheeks full, the Nostrels a little open, the Corners of the Mouth turning a little upwards, the Lips red and the whole Air of the Face Smiling, the Complection pret∣ty Ruddy, the Head inclining towards the Object. The Sub∣jects are Infinite.

Pain maketh the Patient to draw in the Eye-brows, strain the Lips, shew the Teeth, throwing the Arms abroad, some∣times drawing the Body together, turning and shutting the Eyes, it causeth Tears, Shakings, Burnings, Sweats, sometimes to stretch the Veins, to Roar out and beat themselves, &c.

The Subjects, Prometheus fed on by the Vulture, St. Se∣bastian when shot to Death, St. Stephen Ston'd, St. Peter Crucify'd with his Heels upwards, St. Lawrence burnt on a Gridiron, St. Bartholemew, with innumerable more Examples of those who have suffer'd under Cruel Tyrants.

Despair hath Actions betokening a Privation of Hope, it caus∣eth to tare the Hair, Garments and Flesh, sometimes a fixt and resolute Look with a stern Brow, &c. the Subjects Saul, Cleopatria, Queen Dido, Cato Uticensis, Mithridates, Nero, Ju∣das, Architophel, Thisbe, Lucretia, &c.

Fury sheweth Actions of Folly and Distraction with Ve∣hemency in all their Affections, by Gaping, wrying their Mouths, seeming to Cry out, bewail, Howl, Lament, Tear∣ing their Limbs and Garments.

The Subjects, Athamas killing his Son, and putting away his Wife; Heliodorus in his Aethiope: History mentioning this Fury in fair Cariclia, partly for the Absence of her Theagenes and partly for the Marriage of Cnemon and Nausiclia, brings her in like a Fury, throwing her self on her Bed, tearing her Hair and Flesh, and Crying, come let us Sacrifice to the Divel; likewise in Althaea kindling the firebrand of her Son Maleager, &c.