The British Press; or, Morning Literary Advertiser.
London, England, 1810-07-11 00:00:00

OXFORD COMMVIORA77OY.

W7l1? ARE TUC ARTS, la TUC CULTIVATION OF
NUICII TUC 140DSIINS HITS 1116 EN LLss SUC-
CESSFUL TUAS TUS ANCISNT4 ?

♦ MIZE ESSAY,
. SUITED IN TUB TISK4TitE, AT 03L/011119
JOLT 3. 1810.

as Jeovel, alone iiirszWol,4 raziwn. Ph. A.

That human society has a naturel tendency to
itiiproveme.it, is a truth ohetou• u, its own nature.
au! strikingly confirmed by experience. By the
agency of this principle, the institutions and mao-
.
Vsera, the bCieures and aria, of social life, vent tit
be progressively impelled towards perfect on ; and.
though occasionally checked by acted, ,ttal eh-
stret.giona, they return invariably to their original
course; as the turnout of a slant, though continu-
ally impeded, will uniformly some tileie upright
growth. when the obstacles that opposed it are re-
moved,
if the existence of this principle of improvement
should be disputed, iii those oroots where moral
imeellenre is concerned, it must at least he allowed
that it operates very powerfully, in those which
relate to invention or discovery. For here. the
facility with which each succeeding improver avails
binsself of the labenrs of his predece.sniel, enefilee
its. when once the foundatieme of an art ur science
bare been laid, to enlarge acid embellish the super-
etrartmire to an extent which knows no limits;
while, by memo of those contrivance-, which so
wrinderfully facilitate time transmiseion of knew-
}edge. we edit .derive lithely as ,such advantage
front the labours of uur *literalists, as from those of
our centempos aliee.
Aucorilingly,iu the numerous circle of arts which
ere employed about the conveniences of life. our
superiority to the ancient* is generally admitted.
Two inventions, which were originally the produc-
tione of aecideot, hive coutributed to give us a de-
cided superiority iu the .its 'of navigation and oar ;
while a new and simelior method of investieetion
bas proved of incalculable advantage, in all those
which depend on the various branches of natural
philosophy.
But when we torn nor attention to the fine art',
we minuet hut observe, Hog the superiority of uto.
&mantles is either wh•il:y lust, or at least consi-
derably lessened. % eight of wicket excel.
!came seems tribe yogroeuted, while a proportionate
diminution. on the opposite side, is miler's Meese-
able. Amidst the trepidation!' of a balance, a hich
now becomes so nosily adjusted, a discerning eye
may perhaps parce•ve a preponderance on the side
of antiquity. But even those who are of a contrary ,
opinion. must at least admit. that our improve.
menu in this class of pursuits have by no mess
kept peer with those which hate been made in the
useful The specimens shish have come down
to us of their skill in sculpture and architecture, in
poetry and oratory, specimens which are still ac-
knowledged models for modern imitation, form a
strong argument of their ;boggier excelleiice, if not
of their comparative superierity. in music and in
painting their progress amain be ...innate(' with
any degree of ; but we may fairly imagine
it to have loom far from contemptible; fence throe
arts were studioredy cultivated by a people who die-
'played, in other points, the highest degree of taste
sad genius.
That the ancient, then, if not actually superior
to us in the elegaiit arts, approached us at least
much nearer in them than in the useful mei, and
much nearer than at first sight we (meld bare ex-
pected, will perhaps be universally allowed. And
as this disproportionate excellesce opens a heist for
touch curious socculation, an investigation of the
causes which produced it may prove both interest-
ing in itself, and useful in our subserptent inquiry
into the actual state of coniparisou between the
Ancients and Moderns.
Without recoiling to the fanciful notions of
with respect to the degeneracy of later
times, or attempting to explain the iisfluence which
soil and climate may pease+. over the dispositions
and intellects of men, we may safely determine,
that, as neture has distributed to different countries
the alviiiitageit of fertilr y iii unequal proportions,
so, she has poured on some stations, with greater
profusion than on others, the riche, endowments of
genius and imagination. The inhabitants of theeee
were in this respect highly favoured. To the ex-
ternal adynuteges which.they prisetssed, were added
an extraordinary portion of natural acuteness and
delicacy of taste ; qualities which, it is said, are
still to be found in their deseervihnite. though re-
premed by the iron howl of despotiein. The Ro-
mans were, perhaps, not im fortunate; and though
they borrowed largely irons the (leech., they sere
seldom aide to equal them. The facility,
with which they availed themselves of the talents
of a foreign nation, probably acted as a check upon
domestic ingenuity. as importations are found
uu-
faysarable to the increase of manufactures.
As far. therefore, ao the gifts of nature are eon-
cerned, no prop!e had a fairer chance thou the
Greeks, of becoming highly eminent for produc-
tions of genius ; and varinns circumetanc-s con-
cnrred to give full play to their suiberiority of talent.
anal to advance the arts asbeng them to a high de-
gree of perfection.
Of these, that which principally arrest, our et.
Motion ie, the divi.inn of that cimetry into a great
number of small independent states, all cejeying
Itherty, and mutually engaged in perpetual rival-
ship. This spirit of emulation must hare been a
powerful incentive to a people naturally ingenione ;
and the MAY of talent roused into action by this
minute disision. must have been proportionally
great. In tarter store, • eonsiderahle number of
highly-gifted todividoals' must be forced tutu the
throng of undetilignisleel mediocrity.
But these eirehtostencee, which contributed to
promote the wiranceinesit of the tine arse. had not
an equal tendence to eneourre;e the useful arts.—
The 'limber of Milepeueleut neighbouring states
nectAbittly produced continual wars, with their
imenitAnt, Poverty : but te is in the midst of
wealth tied of tranquillity, that commerce sail iiirt-
aufscturna, together with the most of the useful
mats. our biutel to flourish and improve.
But not Duly will the same ramie, frequently
+tire different effects upon pursuits of ditiereist
• the pure is them,eliws may ueeasionally he

found to interfere. In those large and prosperon
states, where the acquisition of wealth is pursued
with the greatest earnestness, and the useful arts
cultivated with the greatest attention, we shall ge.
nerally find the separation of professions, end the
division of labour, carried to the highest extent.--
NOW that this concentration of the powers of each
individual advances each art to the highest degree
of perfedion, and tends to the increase of private.
as well as of national wealth, isa maxim which will
he admitted without divine : but it is no less true,
that both this division of labour, and the weatlh
which is produced by it, have, when increased be-
yond a certain point, • tendency unfavourable to
liberality of mind, to liveliness of genius, and to
elegance of taste. As the sphere of action iu which
an individual is employed becomes narrower, the
greater skill will heactptire in the performance of his
part ; but his mind at the ovine time becomes pro-
portionalq contracted, and he is at length degrad-
ed to the condition of a mere machine. Whereas.'
in • smaller, or a less populous community, or in
one which bus nude It ss progress in manufactures
and in trade, the same person being obliged to per-
form several offices, not udwayl very closely con-
nected with each other, his mind becomes expanded
by taking u wider lunge : ha deficiency pi that
readiness. which tesults from long practice and
,concentrated attentirm, must frequently he sup-
plied by thoughtund contlivance: soil it is precisely
'from this variety of pursuits, and this exertion of
intrllrit, that weary to expect liberality of mind.
and refinement of taste.

To this we may add, that a long and undivided
attention to the purentit of weskit, tends of itself to.
produce • sordid turn of thought, to divest the
mind of all ♦elfish for works of genius, and to es-
tablish a habit of referring every thing to utility, •ud.
of measuring utility by gain.

If these remarks should be found conrnin thle to
reason and experience, our ackwowleilge4 Sept-
riority to the Ancients in commerce and national
wealth, might prepare us to expect an inferiority
in the elegant arts.

It is certain, th.it among' the Ancients themselves.
we are far from hading these arts inseparably con-
nected with public pro.perity, It wail during the
distresses of a protracted war against the Pe'noon.
nesians, that Athens pradueed ru env of thwe works
of genius which we eil inre at this day: while, on
the other hand, the Carat 4ginians. a peonie cer.
tainly aotde.titate of ingenuity, and in wealth and
prosperity superior to ah their cooteminwaries. secra
to have made littie or no progress in the polite arts.
The ea: es that have hitherto kern assigned ore
such as relate principal;y to the parties concerned :
there are caner; that inay hay • contributed to PTO
dove the same effect. which arise met of the nature
of the case itself.

The advantage. which men may derive front the
labours of those who have gone before, has already
been mentioned, as leading us to expert a superior
degree of ez..ellence in later times. It is obvious
that this advantage must efincipOly arise from their
hying able with facility and resdiiiess to avail them-
selves of those diacoveries. and to apply those rules,
which have necessarily cost their predecessors Mitch
time and laboainusinvestigation. But in those pro-
ductions of iteisill4 and taste,of which we have been
spealtmg, this advantage is wonite;fully lessened.
Those rules, by which the subtle emanations of
fanry are directed and coutrouled, are of a nature
too exquisitely line to he m•trked nut with the wlllO
accuracy, or transmitted to po•terity with the same
certainty. as in mechanical arts, aad strict systems
of science.

it is far from being insinuated, that in wedge..
tions of the other description, the artist works at
random, and pleases only by chance ; or that a &Ls
ligcnt alisery itinn of the most 'Admired models is not
highly serviceable, in ►titnnlating the genius and
correcting the taste ; but it must be adulated, th it
throe relisied and delicate rules cannot he adequate-
ly cnnveyed in writing, and consequently will not
enable 01K iii these, as in other paints, s)stemattesl-
ly to improve upon our predecessors, or, in some
cases, even to imitate them successfu;ly.
Another consideration of importance to the pre-
sent question is, that in the fine arts we find our
scope for improvement confined and determinate ;
while discovery in the sciences, and contrivance ill
the usefnl arts, seem to bealtoArther boundless. In
the former class of pursuits, the end proposed is to
give pleasure, Isy affecting certain principles in the
constitution of the hurnau mind, which must be in
all ages substantially the same : in each department
of these, therefore, we may imagine to ourselves a
perfect and nursrt•inq model, and may measure
dif-
fereat devrees of excellence, by the istairoess of their
approaches to it. On the ether side, • boundless
field is opened to a• for improvement. Iliegivation
itself Call fix sin 'tidos to our researcher into the se-
crets of nature : nor can any period he assigned to
the progressive advancr-rnent of throe iuveutions of
humus ingennitv, by whieh, while the labour of
ran is diminished, his (simian!. are multiplied, or
his wants anticipated. In these pursuits, therefore,
we are Ansabl,eid, by the strict rules on which they
proceed, and by their interminable nature, not
only to derive the full benefit from the labours of
our predeceeints, Ist tocontinue our improvements
to a boundless extent : and, •ccordtngh•, it is in
these that we are to seek for the superiority of later
times.
We have wen, then, first some of the senses which
most tend most to promote the progressive improves
anent rifthe u.eful arts and the sciences, do not operate
equally on the elegant arts. lint, in addition to this,
there are Impediments to the progrese of the latte►,
to which the former are not liable. In the floe arts,
the mere passion for variety tempts men to diversify
the chaste models of their predecessors wiah need-
tete slternions end additions which soon become
agreeable from the influence of association ; and,
continuing to multiply, gradually corrupt the pubs
lir In.te, :and cruise the productions of genius to tie-
generete Isom th.itoriginal simplicity. It is from
the cmcrati.”. the principle that an artist, er
a avit.r, of brilliant 1.41.-nts, lust incorrect taste,
con.rilmies so much to mislead the pehlie jnitr,
oral his ,art•• t ere rao.ec►eted by litei► union
with his es vel:encies. nod. from the force of insoeis.
time,. .not our to hs silintrad in themselves, even
when those ex.-ed.-se:es are emoting. Hence it is,
I that there is always a fashion in weft; of genius. and .4
th it its I f•!man, Inruß f..undrl on iniartimstances
en' ircly tudelnaident of %Le• fixed principle's( ewe.

tends nut only to obstruct the progress of the fioe
arts, but even to promote their decline.
la science. on the contrary. and on the other
class or arts. these causes cannot operate. The
syteius which are founded on demon,tralrie truth
art incapable of being shaken by caprice ; the arts
which are easeuti4l to the well-being of ,ociety can
never be affected by the vicissitudes of iazlneit. In
these pursuits. therefore. the progress of improve-
ment is unimpeded. and it is in these that the Mo-
derns are decidedly superior to the Ancients..

In tile line 1106. we have seen on a general view
of the subject, that this superiority. if it exists at
all, in at limo: ninth lest conspicuous. But, to de-
ttrwiuethe actual state of comparatire excellence,
we must have recourse to a separate examination of
the arts, and consider the respective reveres of the
Ancients and the Moderns to each.

lu the kosecution of this design, it would be too
long and tot, laborioas it book, to ruler deeply iuto
the pnucipied of any art ; or to engage in any con-
troversy that cata only be decided by au induction of
particnlors. It will be sufficient to examine the
ennt:nonlyi received opinions on each subject, and
briefly ko -inquire into the grounds an winch they
rest.

• There is. perhaps. no art in which the superiority
of the Ancierts is more generally allowed. than
avid pture ; art which the tine models that have come
down to n., are still appealed to as the standard of
excellence. in painting. on the other timid. the ad-
vantage is generally supposed to he on the side of
the Mo.leiMs. Now it appears natural that sculp-
ture should its its origin have been prior to paint-
ing ; it war a more (4)% Mutt, sod therefore probably.
an earlier attempt to elrvpe one substaure into the
Inrin of 1111411 h. roimo to represent. oa a Hat-to doors
'by means (if light and shade. the appearance of a
soli:1 ho;ly. Of the former art. some traces are to
be found even among the moat uncultured sav-
ages. The inhabitants of New South Wales.
'though completely deatitute of clothing. mid fre-
quently of hiliiitations, :ere yet reported to have
made some rode attempts at sculpture. That the
art whim was of earliest origin should also be the
first to attain perfection. is no more than alight
reasonably be rapt eted : but there is no doubt
that its pro4re.s wes much accelerated by the pe-
Culiar nature of their religious-won.hip, which re-
quired that the objects of their edoretion aliould be
exhibited iii sensible representations. Anti
• Sure being. from whatever cause, preferred to paint-
ing for rei Twat purposes. the frequency of demand
for images of their• gods and heroes. noitiug with
the dignity of the subject to call Isorth afl the
powers of the statuary. Won raised this art to trans.
evident excellence.

On the other hand, the many advantages which
painting posuoses, oat malty established in time its
just claim to superior utteutioa. The art whu•h re-
presented the form only, asthma the colours of
its objects. was gradually supplanted by that which
could. with equal fidelity, imitate both. Aid thus
tirow artists, who possessed the niset aspiring ge-
nius, were led to esiltit,ste painting. whde sculp-
ture wus comparatively arglectert
Botvbesides this cans-, th. re is no doubt that the
astonishing perfection of the at elva sculptor► con-
tributed also in slow (twee to divert the genial
of the Moderns into a different channel. For se
must rentember, that while, in the useful arts, the
inventions of the Ancients only open a door to the
.Moderns foe still further inaprovetnents; in' the
tine arts, the same cause is frequently found to
have a contrary tend. 'icy; and in none of thesis
has this been more fully exemplified than in sculp-
ture. The excellence o' th.s ancient models which
have come down to us, is «rich as to preclude a
modern artist front the hope of excelling, or even
equalling them. That principle, therefore. which
has given birth to the finest performances iii every
art, the principle of imulattoo, is, by this melons,
weakened or extinghished ; :tad men betake them.
selves to some other purinit, in which the highest
pus!' are yet waaccupitul.

This cause has probably contributed mote than
'nay other to produce a &r ho.- in sculpture, arid sub-
sequently in painting also. The unrivalled masters
. of Greece, in the former art, and those whom Italy
afteiwards produced in the latter, excite iistnaish-
nseut, but reprterti etoulctioa. And this+ cause pro.
duces the more striking effects, because it melates
chiefly upon exalted genuises. For great and tie-
voted minds are generally the most ready to aditiiee
excellence in others, and the moat authitious to
attuiti to it themselves. The former, therefore, vf
these proo ivies., when they have a very fierlem
model beture them, makes them despair of stierno.s.
nig. it ; mid the 'alter prompts thou to employ
their talents in anti... oilier Poison. where the hope
of pre-enuueuce may 4iimslate them to exertion.—
For it ma to be observed, that in the hoe arts, the
define of exedlence is the principal. if not the only
incentive, upon whose operation we can itil;faTl7;:i ••
rely; while. in the useful arts, the demand for li
their produetions being continual, necessity, and
the drone of gain, will be a stifGrient stimulus,
even where emulation is extinguished. The loom
and the forge sill never be neglected, however
inferior their productions to thoise-of another age or
country. Rut the sculptor or the painter. when
contemplating • model. whose beauties he cannot
hope to equal, will probably relinquish his attempt
in despair.
The remarkable excellence of the ancien's iw
architecture, nett attests out Attention ; an art in
which. os well as in the foregoing, theii superiority is
generally admitted. Resides thecaures which have
already hero sisigated, as affecting the hue sits in
general, the excellence of this, doubtless. Owe, mach
to the pomp of their worship, and to their demo.
crane form of goverament. It is is • republic, that
each individual feels the most pride iu the splendour
of puhlie edifice,: thew he considers as in a certain
degree his own property ; while the jealousy of the
ob hewer n 14 tell.lll to repress the display of private
sod capricious magnificence. Hem* the genius of
the ancient architects. especially among the Greeks,
was employed on sumptuous temples and iheistre, :
at the same time, the necessity of gaining the appro-
bation of the multitude. subj.-cted each work to the
collective judgment of all the citizens ; aid thus
prevented the public usotary from hieing atiOsacletefl
on buildingsof rude and tasteless, splendour. Hence
too, s riv, IN emulation, and even ambition. was in.
arireil 11140 thc ar, tot ; the most entitle= et,seketed
by the coucurrent rot, a of the people ; and. how-
ever eatenare his design, it *as read?, snirported

by the musificenci of a whole'coutrhui.dy, U, der
these circumstances, are might awn; a:i y t :le.
au ingenious a people should readily hill ioto , /wan,
au! and correct stele of Imildiug. Nor is it io he
wondered at that this style should afteraards hue
been debased by accidental corruptions, to ohidt
this art is ecru more liable than the when, po,.
in architecture, the end originally punued mast al.
ways have beta utility ; a principle not tiled, lite
that of beauty, lout varying with all the siedeotat
circurnatanees of climate and customs : sod
guards, when ornament began to be an object of at.
tention. mrn'a taste pursued, in a cerium degree,
the same track which utility had marked out,
It
is evident that this attention to a principle wholly
independent of taste, must have subjected arch',
tecture to the influence of many accidental einem.
stances, which cannot affect those arts that see
merely ornamental. But when to this any other
principle, independent of taste, is superadebd, tho
liability to corruption becomes proportionably hi.
creased. Of this nature was that religion, pr.j.s.
dice, whirls, in the middle ages, motile's! a forge
class of buildings into the bas elegaat Loa of a
cross ; and, to the structure of the Eacuoisl in
Spain, suggested a model still meta fanciful sod
grotesque.

- Seer rat new order. of architecture. indeed, arose
%bout tine period, acme of whkesuit he lil.o
to !MSS V. 6 a high degree of merit, even by three ilia
will lot eii tier them to rank with
the more rorrert judgment of later tiines h.a ben,
employ ed to st beet timer beentas. animist Lessem
ing their defects.
But, though the true principles f tie art are
now ascertained, so that the int.dern technic' may
'tate the works of the middle age., without Mtn.
go., or being ,infected with the tithe ,sue *het 4.1 C.
casiomilly debases them; yet we rill ref r to ti e
A ticients as our inoet correct models fur grandeur,
elegance, and simplicity.
On turoing our attrution to polite literature.
poetry firet solicits oar regard : an art, in mice
the productions of the Ancients etijoy • high shoe
of public admiration, in those very cournms where
they hove been the must pool Halle rivafl.d by the
Moderns. For it is not from a dearth of modern
genius, that the pees of Greece end of Rome are
admired: on the contrary, these pr. Lieu, sern.iiii of
antiquity are ever valued most bethly by three ',g-
nosis which have produced the most excellent
tees of their own. A etriirg pried' how ninth the
Ancient* have come:hilted to kindle the ramie r,d
to refine the taste, of eucceediug ages: a vied, tiLt
even if we have outelione Oleos with the lustre we
have borrowed from themselves, yet we cannot beet
of baring eclipsed them. The deference indeed
welch we elicit for the aittlioritv of the mien;
Nutt", and the appeals se rola innaly nett e
not perhaps as perfect tired-1., but certainly as ad-
uairahle reastiples, are a sufficient acki.owiecigmeet,
an our part, it-not climatal superiority, at least of
extrenr.i...tory excellence.
But what,. ver may be our derision as to ear rem.
!ketonic success of the Aucieuts and %duns in
114 cultioatioalef pewter; there is another art, in
which wrrmay, without hriitetion, pronounce 'he
Ancient" deented4 enperioy an art too, elvelt tea
no small tr 'tie Slyotion: for oratory, is
whatever light K play be emoted with regard tit its
political utility, meet iiidispritably rank high one
the admirers of polite literature.
The powerful influenre,,Sehich eloqatecte
vessels over the molds of time multitude., give the
orator so great an edraiitage in popular govern-
ments that intemet soon prompted men to coin.
. vale the art in throe states which adopted that e• D-
efinition : for we do not find that it made meth
progress even in Greece, while ruore,rchy and or,.
garithy prevailed. The nusuitableneoi of them
klaferilllarlble to the cultivation of oratory is, re-
marked by the author of the dialogue os the do
Cline of eloquence at Rome:—
" Quid tam opus eat lunris in sends sentearis, cue Se
non utu ? quid multi& spud populsin
bore cunt de republics, non imperil' et molts debbeiset,
Sett i,rpieutiasimus, cl unseal"
Lint besides the advantages wising from their
form of Government, that half-civilized state of
e"eiclt*, abich prevailed among the Greeks and
'toluene at the peeled under cousidefation, was
'reels hefty calculated to &tour the advancement of
this att. A peel k altogether rude and barlicuour,
are eery powerfully effected, indeed, by eloquence.
Mot their taste in it it likely to be faulty. On the
other hood. a tuition very !sights. refined, is ten
liable. perhaps. to he itiOnencell by the sits of
rhemeic.--lt is in the intermediate state that the
encouragement is bed out to good °rotors, while
those of inferior merit are rejected.
The decline, therefore, of eloquence, hunch per.
hap., been eirusitous'y attributed to the e.:lei diffu-
sion of knoaledge, woich enables a modern emitei,ce
to distingskieh energy of expression from nighty
of ereenteciits But the "elect nature of our
herative assemblies., the iumher of which
jetty is composed, and the multitude and prici.,ore
If orir law., have probably had the greatest shine ;it
sbr,Jging the totlueoce, which the orator (remedy
gesseased.
But, natwitlistateling these circumstances, the
deltivation of oratory may still be attended soh
mast important advantages. And though tie rhetoe
viral artifices. which were formerly pmetised. may be
theught unsuitable to the present cosmos of se-
eiry, as the style of Demosthenes was found Ly
Cite., to he, in some respects, ill adapted to a
Roman audience; though, in massy grime., a devi-
atm, from our 11110trelly in 6001 e. perhaps, a mon
angel refinement, may be found neeee,sate ; still we
mule not conclude, that, became, it requires alt: re.
trout this art has wholly loot its influence. Men
prislioes tit be excited, impeiontions to be
pleased, sod hymn to he elected: and those who
twilit or the superior cooliiewi of jurig.o.nt in the
fber thathis settledC iesar,
on one Cc, tenon divteertesirw
Into from being deficient clearoen f judgmeet,
by Use of Cicero, woothe furthest of ea
Mid tiel,,,,,ess of character.
Hal sepposing the minds of the more enliehtened
o
to be sinciontly fortified by cultivation agemit the
r ews ho
t was
r rs
itsuirtishwor ite,h,te opogortoe4noliicietnieerlcl
ostl iniml reeitunisevii; a large
wilhshaonfad
they will he as poweeful as ever. For on the fled-
din and lower milers the cheerers of thin, nee puierei
an inflaeree which i. truly impetigo, sod "Mali
h'l leetko•-oly been pers. rted to tlie,wrieet of r or-
. rN'es• W.:ether so powerful an Eng roe m g:.t 4,0 t