The Lancaster gazette. (Lancaster, Ohio) 1846-1852, 1851-07-03
For tie Gazette.

Of modern times would seem 10 confirm
such belief Many however who take
such statement for granted. do SO. not
from any knowledge They possess. but
merely adept the sentiment without ex-
animation, being ignorant Of the present
state Of the arts aud sciences. In our
own country. an almost undivided atten.
tion to the pursuit Of wealth, tends Of
itself 10 produce a sordid turn Of thought
and divests the mind Of relish fnr works
of genius. aud establishes habit Of re-
fering everything to utility and Of meas
nring utility by gain. For this reason we
are far in advance Of the ancients in com
merce aud national wealth; and now tn at
we are so. there is no ennd reason why
we should not become the patrons Of the
Arts and Sciences. and especially We
ought to nurture and support ndtiUe tal
eRt.
An elegant writer has justly remarked.
that "mental pleasure depends so much
on the constitution and habits nfth mind
To which il is administered. fnr the man
ner and degree in which its influence pre-.
walls. that no theory If taste, which pre-
ten Is IN reveal the sources of this pleas
ure aud To develope its mode of opera
tion, can he positive and perfectly com'
prehensive. From experience and oh.
servation, general rules may be deduccd
but scarcely so as tn guard against every
exception. Every one having in some
respect his own train Of feelings and
stock Of ideas. besides those common to
his own age, country or religion, or hav
ing the latter compounded and bleuded
in different proportions, we can on y rea
sou from those which some classes have
in general wilhuutIrfsrence TO those pc
culisr To The individual. Many are dead
to subImiiy. who are keenly alive To
beauty; many critics in the fine arts are
faulllessly accurate in the execution and
detail, are hurt by false anatomy. detect
instantly the flaw IN the statue, nr the un
finished ionch in the picture, yet c"mpre'
hend not the magniicence or simplicity
Of the design; many judge entirely from
the frs, impression, and arc blind Ia
the grossesl errors or negligeuces in the
filling up of the composition. In com
parison therefore of Painting and Sculp'
turc, we must agree, not from single aud
solitary instances of ;heir influence, but
| from their more wide and general effect
proceed as high as p"ssibIe to the ele'
menls of she pleasure they impart and
trace aud explain the causes Of the vary
ing emMious they excite. 3d.. .....
The fine arts (limiting this expression
:" sculpture and pain,ing) add'ess tho i'm
aginatiou Though the sense Of sight; anc
or arden, temperament Of our minds, ant
althongh in their essence strictly imita
tive of forms really existing. aud whose
positive existence is conceivable; yet b,
awakening and keeping ulive that &C
tive faculty become purely ideal, and pre-
sent us with f,rms closely adhering Il
their types in nature. but wrought t" I
supernatural grandeur or beauty. 1t II
their address to the Imagination which
chiefly causes the emotions within us, o
elevation. Of terror. or Of mild aud pla
ced delight; aud those emotions are mnr,
strong and subtle, according TO the colt
in some respects their habitude and famil
iarity with addresses Of this nature. Th
images arc before us in stone or on can
E vass; but our..creative mind breatheslife
motion and feeling upon them. Not tina
any positive actual illusion takes place
no one, except in state of the most vic
lent enthusiasm, is worked toa belit
that statue is breathing flesh, or pain
ing real life. But the Imagination We
vers from the repre- sentatinD To the thin
represented, and monlds up for itself
-, sort Of indistincl existence from the qua
!, ilies of both. The ideas of motion, breall
:, animal warmth. are so necessarily an
insepsrably connected with our n"ti"
Of animal form. that figure in marble {
= lin color inevitably suggests what 1t cal
u not express; aLd in this sense imaginI
y ton supplies The deficiency Of the art.
But previous to this address to the in
sgiuation, painting has an advantage
which sculpture either has not at all, ,
in a far less degree. The harmony
q rich and brilliant colurs has doubtless.
$ gratifying effect on the sense and prodn
J. es pleasing impression on tho organ
sight. The spotless white and gloss
smoolhuess Of marble may indeed max
p a sort of cool aud soothing impression q
e the same organ; but this is faint and le,
: Bile in comparison with the sensual enjo,
men, proceeding from the mellow col
u tt asst aud rich variety Of Venetian pi
,r .o Time naintino in mauner cOl