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re so often loaded； should let fall his pencil in mere despair； conscious how much he has been indebted to the labours of others； how little； how very little of his art was born with him； and； considering it as hopeless； to set about acquiring by the imitation of any human master what he is taught to suppose is matter of inspiration from heaven。
Some allowance must be made for what is said in the gaiety or ambition of rhetoric。 We cannot suppose that any one can really mean to exclude all imitation of others。 A position so wild would scarce deserve a serious answer； for it is apparent； if we were forbid to make use of the advantages which our predecessors afford us； the art would be always to begin； and consequently remain always in its infant state； and it is a common observation that no art was ever invented and carried to perfection at the same time。
But to bring us entirely to reason and sobriety； let it be observed； that a painter must not only be of necessity an imitator of the works of nature； which alone is sufficient to dispel this phantom of inspiration； but he must be as necessarily an imitator of the works of other painters。 This appears more humiliating； but it is equally true； and no man can be an artist； whatever he may suppose； upon any other terms。
However； those who appear more moderate and reasonable allow that study is to begin by imitation； but that we should no longer use the thoughts of our predecessors when we are become able to think for ourselves。 They hold that imitation is as hurtful to the more advanced student as it was advantageous to the beginner。
For my own part； I confess I am not only very much disposed to lay down the absolute necessity of imitation in the first stages of the art； but am of opinion that the study of other masters； which I here call imitation； may be extended throughout our whole life without any danger of the inconveniences with which it is charged； of enfeebling the mind； or preventing us from giving that original air which every work undoubtedly ought always to have。
I am； on the contrary； persuaded that by imitation only； variety； and even originality of invention is produced。
I will go further； even genius； at least what generally is so called； is the child of imitation。 But as this appears to be contrary to the general opinion； I must explain my position before I enforce it。
Genius is supposed to be a power of producing excellences which are out of the reach of the rules of arta power which no precepts can teach； and which no industry can acquire。
This opinion of the impossibility of acquiring those beauties which stamp the work with the character of genius； supposes that it is something more fixed than in reality it is； and that we always do； and ever did agree； about what should be considered as a characteristic of genius。
But the truth is that the degree of excellence which proclaims genius is different in different times and different places； and what shows it to be so is that mankind have often changed their opinion upon this matter。
When the arts were in their infancy； the power of merely drawing the likeness of any object was considered as one of its greatest efforts。
The common people； ignorant of the principles of art； talk the same language even to this day。 But when it was found that every man could be taught to do this； and a great deal more； merely by the observance of certain precepts； the name of genius then shifted its application； and was given only to those who added the peculiar character of the object they represented； to those who had invention； expression； grace； or dignity； or； in short； such qualities or excellences the producing of which could not then be taught by any known and promulgated rules。
We are very sure that the beauty of form； the expression of the passions； the art of composition； even the power of giving a general air of grandeur to your work； is at present very much under the dominion of rules。 These excellences were； heretofore； considered merely as the effects of genius； and justly； if genius is not taken for inspiration； but as the effect of close observation and experience。
He who first made any of these observations and digested them； so as to form an invariable principle for himself to work by； had that merit； but probably no one went very far at once； and generally the first who gave the hint did not know how to pursue it steadily and methodically； at least not in the beginning。 He himself worked on it； and improved it； others worked more； and improved farther； until the secret was discovered； and the practice made as general as refined practice can be made。 How many more principles may be fixed and ascertained we cannot tell； but as criticism is likely to go hand in hand with the art which is its subject； we may venture to say that as that art shall advance； its powers will be still more and more fixed by rules。
But by whatever strides criticism may gain ground； we need be under no apprehension that invention will ever be annihilated or subdued； or intellectual energy be brought entirely within the restraint of written law。 Genius will still have room enough to expatiate； and keep always the same distance from narrow comprehension and mechanical performance。
What we now call genius begins； not where rules； abstractedly taken； end； but where known vulgar and trite rules have no longer any place。 It must of necessity be that even works of genius； as well as every other effect； as it must have its cause； must likewise have its rules； it cannot be by chance that excellences are produced with any constancy； or any certainty； for this is not the nature of chance； but the rules by which men of extraordinary parts； and such as are called men of genius work； are either such as they discover by their own peculiar observation； or of such a nice texture as not easily to admit handling or expressing in words； especially as artists are not very frequently skilful in that mode of communicating ideas。
Unsubstantial； however； as these rules may seem； and difficult as it may be to convey them in writing； they are still seen and felt in the mind of the artist； and he works from them with as much certainty as if they were embodied； as I may say； upon paper。 It is true these refined principles cannot be always made palpable； like the more gross rules of art； yet it does not follow but that the mind may be put in such a train that it shall perceive； by a kind of scientific sense； that propriety which words； particularly words of unpractised writers such as we are； can but very feebly suggest。
Invention is one of the great marks of genius； but if we consult experience； we shall find that it is by being conversant with the inventions of others that we learn to invent； as by reading the thoughts of others we learn to think。
Whoever has so far formed his taste as to be able to relish and feel the beauties of the great masters has gone a great way in his study； for； merely from a consciousness of this relish of the right； the mind swells with an inward pride； and is almost as powerfully affected as if it had itself produced what it admires。 Our hearts frequently warmed in this manner by the contact of those whom we wish to resemble； will undoubtedly catch something of their way of thinking； and we shall receive in our own bosoms some radiation at least of their fire and splendour。 That disposition； which is so strong in children； still continues with us； of catching involuntarily the general air and manner of those with whom we are most conversant； with this difference only； that a young mind is naturally pliable and imitative； but in a more advanced state it grows rigid； and must be warmed and softened before it will receive a deep impression。
From these considerations； which a little of your reflection will carry a great way further； it appears of what great consequence it is that our minds should be habituated to the contemplation of excellence； and that； far from being contented to make such habits the discipline of our youth only； we should； to the last moment of our lives； continue a settled intercourse with all the true examples of grandeur。 Their inventions are not only the food of our infancy； but the substance which supplies the fullest maturity of our vigour。
The mind is but a barren soil； is a soil soon exhausted； and will produce no crop； or only one； unless it be continually fertilised and enriched with foreign matter。
When we have had continually before us the great works of art to impregnate our minds with kindred ideas； we are then； and not till then； fit to produce something； of the same species。 We behold all about us with the eyes of these penetrating observers； and our minds； accustomed to think the thoughts of the noblest and brightest intellects； are prepared for the discovery and selection of all that is great and noble in nature。 The greatest natural genius cannot subsist on its own stock： he who resolves never to ransack any mind but his own will be soon reduced； from mere barrenness； to the poorest of all imitations； he will be obliged to imitate himself； and to repeat what he has before often repeated。 When we know the subject designed by such men； it wil