[Suggested translation, Marije Osnabrugge:] Indeed the Invention mainly consists in the power of our mind; seen that our mind has to imagine a lively presentation of the whole matter from the beginning; except that this lively presentation or representation of the conceived things should simultaneously move our minds so powerful, that, finding itself changed by the deceptive clarity of such imaginings after the occasion of the things that we intend, sets itself to work capably and without delay.

[D'après DE LAIRESSE 1787, p.211:] On sait qu’un tableau est [NDR : une mise en scène] la description ou la représentation [NDR : par la plume ou le pinceau ] qui a eu lieu, ou d’un objet qui existe […]