ART OF LIMNING (expr.)
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Quotation
The Grecians had this Art in so high esteem, that they made an Edict, that no Slave should be admitted to learn this Art ; and good reason, because this Art should onely be permitted to those that were of a Free, Ingenious, Noble Mind, and such as excelled others in their sharp Ingenuity ; and this Noble Mind is soon espied in him who hath a delight to such a Liberal Art.
The Ancient Romans ordered their Children so, that among other Liberal Sciences The Art of Limning was enjoyned to them to learn. Which Commendable thing long before this was in practice among the Grecians, so that their Youth of a good Descent added to their Liberal Learnings of Geometrie, Musick, and other Mathematical Sciences, The Art of Painting also ; for this Art hath been so highly esteemed, that amongst the Feminine Sex it was held a great Honour if they had affected and delighted themselves in such an Honourable Exercise ; as the Faithful Histories bear witness of the most Potent Roman VARRO’s Daughter, called MARTIA, that she had good skill in The Art of Limning.
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Quotation
THE Art of Miniture OR LIMNING
I Hope that no Ingenuous person, will be so bold to attempt this Art, before he can design, (that is to say) further than Copying any Picture in black and white, as Cole, black Chalk, black Lead or the like. It is necessary to draw much after good Heads of plaister of Paris, because the difference is much more difficult to draw after a round then a flat, and after you have practised much by the Heads of plaister, you must endeavour to draw much after the life, in black and white, before you undertake the Art of Limning.
Conceptual field(s)
Quotation
Among the many Operations of Mysterious Nature, the Intellectual Part of Man hath no equal : Among the multifarious Productions of Man’s Understanding, the Art of LIMNING is by none excelled ; whether we consider the Grandeur of Spirit therein expressed, or the Ingenious Delight thereby acquired. What Ray of the Great Creator’s Image is more conspicuous in the Soul of Man, than that of Intense Desire to produce Creatures of his own ? And wherein is that Inclination so compleatly answered, as by Delineating the Workmanship of God in Artificial Resemblances contrived and wrought by his proper Wit ? Nor can any Satisfaction equal what is derived from the Perfection of these Designs. Are the Proportions exact ? How strongly do they attract the Eye ? Be the Shadowings accurate ? How strangely do they affect the Mind ? But if the Artist hath stoln so much of Promethean Fire as to add the Excellency of Life to well-disposed Lineaments, representing the Native Air and sprightly Gesture of the Person in vive : How unspeakably doth he gratify both ?