Page:Thoughts on art and life.djvu/127

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plain from the high summits of the mountains, and if he wishes after this to see the horizon of the sea, he can do so; and from the low valleys he can gaze on the high mountains, or from the high mountains he can scan the low valleys and shores ; and in truth all quantities of things that exist in the universe, either real or imaginary, he has first in his mind and then in his hands; and these things are of so great excellence that they beget a harmonious concord in one glance, as do the things of nature.

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We can safely say that those people are under a delusion who call that painter a good master who can only draw well a head or a figure. Cer- tainly there is no great merit if, after studying a single thing during a whole lifetime, you attain to a certain degree of perfection in it. But know- ing, as we do, that painting includes and com- prehends all the works produced by nature, or brought about by the fortuitous action of man, and in fact everything that the eye can see, he seems to me to be a poor master who can only do one thing well. Now seest thou not how many and diverse acts are performed by men ? Seest thou not how many various animals there are, and likewise trees, plants and flowers; what a va- riety of mountainous or level places, fountains, rivers, cities, public and private buildings, instru-

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