The Vinton record. [volume] (M'arthur, Vinton County, Ohio) 1866-1891, 1867-05-02

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that he lacks the capacity, but let him make
the trial. ltreqpires but one step alta time.
Did ever any one refuse to learn to read
because he bad first to learn his letters p
AS, in other pursuits, all can not expect to
be equally proficient SO, aIlnny not expect
to become artists for the work of an artist
requires years of careful toll and study; but
all may be greatly benefited by studying
even the first principles of drawing. 1t
will make them better workmen in any and
every department of labor. Fine works Of
art will be better appreciated, counterfeit
banknOtes will be less easily passed; in
truth, it would be impossible TO pass cOun.
terfeit note if all were educated in drawing
and the language of design,
1t is mpch more difficult for a good photo
grapher to please a subject who is entirely
ignorant of the principles of art, than one
who has made drawing part Of his edu "a.
tion. They Gun not see that art is but q
representation of nature, and that picture
is made up of light and shade, and where
they exist in the original, they must of ne.
cessity be reproduced in the copy. Of course
it is the province of the artist to properly
arrange and modify his light, so as to pro-
duce good artistic effect But the tastes
of the people have been perverted by set
of charatans, making milk-and-water pic
lures for mere song, degrading the art
and creating dissatisfaction among the peo-
pie. 1t is true they charge all their pic
lures are worth, because they are really of
NO value,
1t will be an advantage to artists and to
their patrons to encourage drawing, and a
disadvantage to no one, for the pleasure af-
forded will well repay the toll.
Not only is it beautiful accomplishment,
but a never.lailing source Of amusement 1t
trains and edu9ates the eye and hand to
better execute the will of their posscssor,
and gives him power that he never b1fore
dreamed Of, and opens his eyes to beauties
of nature never before imagined.
Will not our teachers introduce driOling
into their schools? If not, let the scholars
do it tn ,mselves.
"a story told of Giotto, the celebrated
Italian painter, who aOurished in the be,
ginning of the fourteenth century, may not
here be inappropriate. When Pope Benc-
dict TX. sent to Florence for specimens o
the skill of the artists Of that city, his
messenger came to Giotto and told him OF
the Pope's intentions, which were to employ
him in st. Peters Church, at Rome, and de-
sired him to send some design bv him to his
holiness, by which he might judge Of his
capacity. GiOtto, who was pleasant man.
took a sheet of white paper, and drew, with
one stroke of his pencil II circle so exactly
that round as Giotto' o. became proverb
Then presenting it to the gentleman, he told
him that there was piece of design which
ho might carry to his holiness. The mes
seuger replied, Il ask for design Go
sir said Gotto Il tell you his holiness
asks nothing else of me- Giotto went to
Rome This artist who stool so high in
his day, whose works are so justly admired
who rose to the esteem and friendship OIL
the greatest men of the age in which hi
lived, whom Dante and Petrarch were proud
to own as friend, to whose memory, wher
dead, the city of Florence erected a statue
was once poor shepherd boy; and, while
tending the sheep in the field, developed
the talent that made him what he became
by drawing his flock in the sand and on fla
stones" b.