The State of the Queftion [Is it Origi-

nal, or Copy at Large] fpoken to. 183

2. Is it of fuch a Hand, or After him. 185

An Objection anfwered.
189

3. Is This of fuch a Master's Own Inven-

tion, or Copy'd by Him after fome O-

ther.

4.

190

Is it done by the Mafter from the Life,

or Invention, or after another Picture

of his Own.

Of Prints.

193

ibid.

'Tis necessary to have Clear, and Diftinct

Ideas.

200

CONTENTS

Of the Argument in behalf of the

Science of a Connoiffeur.

INtroduction.

P. I

The Science recommended by its Dignity,

Certainty, Pleafure, and Advantage. 8

An Idea of Painting whereby it appears

that it is not only a Fine piece of Work-

manship, and an Exact Imitation of

Common Nature; its Bufinefs is chief-

ly to Raife, and Improve Nature, and

above all to communicate Ideas.
Painting Compar'd with Hiftory, Poetry,
and Sculpture; particularly with the
Latter, and preferr'd.

ΙΟ

20

Illuftrated in the Hiftory of Count Ugo-

lino of Pifa, by Villani.

26

The fame Story as manag'd by Dante 30

A Baffo-Relievo of the fame by Michel-

angelo.

32,

Painting, and the Science of a Connoiffeur

might be made very Beneficial to the

Publick.

41

1. In the Reformation of our Manners. ib.

1. The Improvement of our People.

3. The Increase of our Wealth, &c

46

47

The Dignity of the Science farther ap

pears from the Qualifications requifite

to a Connoiffeur.
64

Amongst others (which are mentioned) he

must be a good Hiftorian.

Hiftory of Painting.

66

Account of the feveral Schools of Modern

Painting.

69

77

80

The Ancient Painters probably excell'd

the Moderns.

The Hiftory of the Lives of the Painters

necessary to be known by a Connoif-

feur.

A General Idea of them.

82

85

The Works of the Mafters completes their

Hiftory.

91

Thofe of the Greatest Quality not only

Connoiffeurs, but fome of them have

Painted alfo.

Sect. II.

93

In order to fhew what Rank This Science

holds among ft Others, as to the Degree

of Certainty to be had in it, the Ge-

neral State of Humane Understanding

is confider'd.

Knowledge is Affent to a Propofition as

94

True.

True.

Alent is in various Degrees.

95

ibid.

96

And always regulated by Evidence.

This had from our Sences, Teftimony, and

Reafon.

Evidence is Relative.

98

ibid.

Of Some things we have no Evidence at

all.

100

In Other cafes 'tis Compleat; but in Moft
Imperfect.

ΙΟΙ

ibid.

The means by which 'tis convey'd to us is
fo.
Thus we know Some things Fully, Others
with a Mixture of Doubt, and are ex-

tremely fubject to Error.

105

Man in One view an Excellent Creature,
in Another Contemptible.

ib.

Each particular Man can have but a

Jmall Jhare of that flock of Science that

is poffeffed by the Species.

108

109

But no Man (properly speaking) poffeffes

more than the Prefent Idea.

Every Man is perpetually Varying from
Himfelf.

And from One another.

ΙΙΟ

ibid.

112

Every Age of the World has the like Va-

riety.

Every Man an Epitome of the whole Spe-

cies, as being Wife in Some things, and

a Fool in Others.

The Whole fumm'd up.

119

120

'Tis a Melancholly Cafe hitherto; efpeci-

a

ally

12 İ

ally if Error is Criminal.

But we have the Cleareft Light in what

is moft Material to our Happiness here.

123

1. No Doubt concerning Action. ibid.

2. Relief by Natural Reafon from the

Doubts arifing Elsewhere.

124

3. Fundamentals we can be Certain of

126

4 Particularly of the Existence of a God.

127

130

The preceding Difcourfe apply'd to the

Science of a Connoiffeur.

The Rules for judging of the Goodness of
ora Picture, &c. Inconteftible, with a
Shorter Abstract of Thefe than in the
former Treatife.

ibid.

The like Affurance in Many Cafes as to

the Hands, and Originality.

Others lefs Certain.

Others more Doubtful.

P

134

136

138

But in the most Material Cafes we are

& most affured.

ibid.

141

Objection from the Variety of Opinions

of Connoiffeurs.

This does not always happen from the Ob-

fenrity of the Science but from fome

Defect in the Men, steibid.

Nor is there fo great a Difference in O-

pinions as there Seems to be.

146

Sect,