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. XVII. (Book 17)

Farther Precepts for the Expressing of Action and Passion.

IThought to have subjoyn'd Subjects for each Remarkable Passion but finding it would swell the Treatise too large, I shall of the rest only shew the manner of Expressing them; for Subjects, the Artist may furnish himself out of Homer, Vir∣gil, Ovid and the rest of the Poets.

Disdain, maketh a Man shake the Head, open his Mouth with a scornfull smile, stare eagerly, opening his Hand and wresting it about, lift up his Nose as if he smelt something amiss.

Injury must have Calumnious, Offensive, and Reproachfull Actions, with an insulting Violence, Threatning, Scorning and looking Feircely.

Vanity produceth Light, Aiery and Frivolous Actions, yet a kinde of Contentment, easily given to Laughter and Mocke∣ry, Foolish, Insolent, Absurd and Vain, yet Affected with all they do themselves.

Pride, in the better Sence, hath a Lofty, Great and Gracefull Carriage, the Motions Noble and Principal, Aspiring at great Things, full of Resolution and Confidence, and thence usually happy in Performance; but Pride in the worst sence, is Impe∣rious, Arrogant and Insolent, causing the Limbs to swell, car∣rying the Head aloft, but without Steadiness or Gravity, shew∣ing scorn and contempt to others advice.

Obstinacy hath Stubborn, Hasty, Hard, Immutable and Im∣placable Actions, Suffering the extremity of Pain rather then Obedience.

Roughness exerciseth Hard, Cruel, Rough and Stubborn Actions, void of Love, Pitty, Mildness, Civility or Generosity, it makes a Man draw in the Eye-lids, draw his Mouth aside when he speaketh, look disguisedly over the Shoulder, move slowly without any Decorum; Perverse, Obstinate, Harsh, Cruel, &c.

Bounty hath Chearfull, Pleasant and Gracefull Actions, with Arms open, the Elbow on the Flank, the Hands held up with Palms forwards, the Body and Head Inclining, turning his Face to whom he talketh (though never so Mean) without the least shew of disdain; his Arms, Legs, Body not mov'd with the least violence, but all Expressing an Affable Temper.

Magnanimity (which is a greatness of Minde) must have ready bold and stout Actions, accompanyed with State and Ma∣jesty, the Countenance Magnificent and vigilant, causing Love, Fear and Reverence in the Beholder: his Head dispos'd to Wor∣thy and Heroical Actions, Free from base and servile Gestures; Farther you may Learn in the Lives of Alexander the Great, Pompey, Hannibal, Charles Loraine, Julius Caesar, Matheus Viconte, and James Trivultius.

Discretion (being properly a Modesty in Things) should have sweet, stayed, and wise Actions; capable of discerning between Good and Evil, True and False; Moderate in their temper, severe against the Insolent, but Gentle to Just and Reasonable Men.

Wantoness should be Express'd with Wanton Looks, the Eyes sparkling, the whole Face smiling, Dimples in the Cheeks, Kissing, Imbracing, Forcing, Striving; the most Allective Parts Naked, as Breasts, Legs, one Arm, Tips of their Tongues seen, but cover'd about the middle with Lawn, to Inflame the de∣sire of beholding the more, for the Antients exprest Venus not quite Naked, as some Remains may be yet seen in Delos and Paphus.

Quietness hath actions full of Joy and Mirth, free and easy without violence or Perturbation; the Countenance smiling without immoderate Laughter, the Eyes pretty open and Brisk, the Limbs moving moderate and Gracefully, the Forehead smooth, and all the Actions betokening peace of Minde.

Lunacy must be exprest with torn Hair, squint Eyes or Di∣storted, swelling Lips strangely Bending, Fowl Nostrels, Teeth befoam'd and appearing more in one place then another, shaking their Heads, moving their whole Body; their Arms, Hands and Legs Trampling, as seeming in continual danger of Falling; their Eyes Gastly Staring, their Countenance Pale,

Wan, or of a black and blew Colour; there be other sorts call'd by Hipocrates, Epileptici, of which there be three kinds, some with their Bodys upright, Streatch out their Legs, others inclining so forcibly forewards that their Faces touch their Knees, and the last bending themselves so violently backwards, that their Heads touch their Heels.

Patience hath Acts of Humility voyd of Offence and De∣fence, which may best be illustrated in the Passion of our Saviour.

Rusticity hath Slovenly, Heavy Slow, Clownish and Unre∣verent Actions, leaning the Arm or Leg on whomever is next Rediculing (in their uncouth Manner) any that appear Neat, Gentele, &c.

Wisdome hath stayd, Grave and sober Actions, a Cheerful severity in the Countenance, stroking the Beard with one Hand, which seems a little disorder'd in token of Contem∣plation.

Folly is full of Vain Actions, absurd Dancing, provoking the Company to Laugh by Apish Gestures of the Body and Hands, turning of the Arm, Head, and Body in a fond Ab∣surd Manner, Grinning with other foolish Gestures, of Mouth and Eyes, ever Crossing the actions of Reason and Under∣standing.

Death hath divers Actions according to the manner of it, if suddenly Slain, the Eyes must turn up, hiding half the Black and Gape; but otherwise if by the effects of long Pain. The Painter must distingiush between a Violent Death and when it comes by a Lingring, Pining Disease, for then the Limbs must be Meagre, sharp and Lean; likewise they must be Hanging, Limber without the least Appearance of strength to Support the Body; the Nerves being Relaxed. But all uncome∣lyness and Noysomeness must be avoided, still Observing to take the best of Nature, or at least to correct the Worst.

Wondring is Exprest, by Pointing with the Finger, throwing abroad the Arms, thrusting out the Belly, biting the Lips, the Eye-brows arch-wise bent, and fixt on the Object some∣times still, Attentive and immoveable.

Simplicity hath Fair, Pure and Free Actions, free from Ma∣lice, Merry, Bashfull, and proper to be exprest in Young Virgins.

Metcy hath Pittyfull and Compassionate Actions, Weeping, bowing down the Head, turning the Neck, reaching the Hand and spreading the Arms.

Inconstancy hath various and uncertain Actions, seldom keeping their Arms, Legs, Feet or Head in one Posture, Weep∣ing, Laughing &c.

Humility is of two kindes, the better appears in Gentle, Mild and Courteous Actions, the other in Base Actions, as when Nero carry'd some of the Earth of Isthmus on his Shoul∣ders; Sardanapalus, when he sate Spinning in his Pallace, &c.

Dread is Exprest by Paleness and Trembling, Fainting and hard drawing of the breath, looking over the shoulder in Flight, cold Sweats, &c.

Modesty keepeth a Mediocrity betwixt too Fearful & too Plea∣sant Gestures; their Actions, Temperate, Moderate, Discreet, Mannerly and Attentive.

Theft opens Mens Eyes, their Hands at Liberty, Musing, looking from the company as fearing they should read them in their Looks, often changing Colour, and sometimes causing Terrible, Insolent, Feirce Actions.

Deceit is full of kinde Usages and Jests, but of Wary, Wise and Malicious Actions, their Eyes Sweet, stedfast, but sharp upon all advantages.

Mallice hath Actions of Fraud and Falsehood, looking sted∣dily on other Mens Eyes, thence to pry into their Secret Affe∣ctions, to obtain thence what may serve their Purpose.

Craftiness hath Malicious, Wary, Forecasting and Witty Gestures, they are Mild and Gentle in all Things, full of Me∣ditation and Art.

Adventuring hath Bold, Feirce and Couragious Actions, and makes Men Free, Loose and Vigilent, void of Fear and Sloath.

Rage is a Passion between Anger and Fury, it makes Men Grin, Foam at the Mouth, Grind their Teeth, throwing away what ever is in their Hands, &c.

Justice as the Platonicks hold is a Masculine Vertue and hath Manly, Magnanimous, moderate and Considerate Actions, in∣clining rather to Severity then Pleasure.

Devotion hath Actions of Kneeling, lifting up the Hands to Heav'n, to plair the Fingers in each other toward the Chin, with an Inclining Countenance, sometimes spreading the Arms abroad, with the Head hanging down, and sometimes Gro∣veling on the Earth with the Face downwards.

Audacity hath Rash, Presumptious, Arrogant and stubborn Actions, desiring to be fear'd of all Men, not Regarding others, scorning all with a fearfull Countenance and Gestures full of Threatning and Insolency; and may be exprest by Nimrod Founder of the Babylonian Tow'r; and in Goliah slain by David.