Note to the reader:
Although complete in text and illustrations, this book is not an exact PDF reproduction of A Treastise on the Art of Painting in All its Branches published in English 1817 but an OCR'd version in WORD document format which makes it searchable and far easier to consult than the cumbersome original.
The reader should be aware, however, that even the best OCR program produces literally thousands of misspelled words, wrongly inserted characters when the original PDF document presents, as in the present case, such significant variences in font clarity and horizontal alignment. The author has proof read the text to the best of his ability although such a large document is a serious challenge to those like myself who do not possess professional editing skills. All attempts were made to preserve the formatting and spelling of the original as as closely as possible.
Even though this WORD version may present occasional spelling or puncttuation errors as well as a few jumbled words, de Lairesse’s treastise is of such cultural importance, that despite occasional imperfections, it can be of great help to anyone who wishes to familiarize himself with seventeenth-century painting concepts as well as the cultural mindset of the history painters of the time. De Lairesse’s work constitutes the most complete seventeenth-century painting treatise of its kind.
If one wishes resolve eventual questions of transcription errors or use this book for scholarly research and citation, it is best to consult the original version, available online at:
https://play.google.com/books/reader?id=TffVAAAAMAAJ&printsec=frontcover&output=reader&authuser=0&hl=it&pg=GBS.PP16
or
http://ia700506.us.archive.org/7/items/treatiseonartofp01lair/treatiseonartofp01lair.pdf
The Table of Contents display the original pages numbers or each chapter so that thereader mae consult the original version if he needs to verify text accuracy. Please feel free to notify me with any observations or corrections, I will be only be too glad to improve the quality of the transcription, formatting or illustrations.
Jonathan Janson
<jonathanjanson@essentialvermeer.com>
A TREASTISE
ON THE
A R T O F P A I N T I N G
IN ALL ITS BRANCHES
ACCOMPANIED BY
SEVENTY ENGRAVED PLATES
AND EXEMPLIFIED BY
REMARKDS ON THE PAINTINGS OF THE BEST MASTERS,
IULLUSTRATING THE SUBJECT BY REFERENCE TO THEIR BEAUTIES
AND IMPREFECTIONS
BY GERARD DE LAIRESSE
REVISED, CORRECTED, AND ACCOMPANIED BY AND ESSAY,
W. M. CRAIG
PAINTER TO HER MAJESTY AND DUKE AND DUCHESS OF YORK
LONDON
PUBLISHED AND SOLD BY EDWARD ORME,
PUBLISER TO HIS MAJESTY AND HIS ROYAL HIGHNESS THE PRINCE REGENT
BOND STREET, CORNER OF BROOK STREET.
1817
CONTENTS
PENCILLING, SECOND TINT, AND BEAUTY.
CHAP. I. Of Handling the Pencil 1
CHAP. II. Of Painting after the Life 3
CHAP. III. Of Dead Colouring, and how to perform it
with Certainty and Expedition 5
CHAP. IV. Of the Second Colouring, and its Requisites 6
CHAP. V. Of Retouching, or Finishing ib.
CHAP. VI. Of the Second Tint, and the Relief it occasions 7
CHAP. VII. Of Beauty, and the Proportions of the Members
in the Human Body 11
CHAP. VIII. Of the Motion of the Members 16
CHAP. IX. Of Passionate and Violent Motions 19
CHAP. X. Of the different Colouring of the Naked, in a Child, Man,
and Woman; in Health, Sickness, and after Death 21
CHAP. XI. Of the Colours, and their Uses, with respect to both the Sexes 23
CHAP. XII. Of agreeable and beautiful Colouring 25
BOOK II. OF ORDONNANCE, OR COMPOSITION.
CHAP. I. Of the Qualities necessary to the first Idea, or Sketch 27
CHAP. II. Of` Composition 28
CHAP. III. Of` the Ordonnance of Histories 29
CHAP. IV. Of the Uses of fine Prints, Academy Figures, and Models 31
CHAP. V. Of` Probability; and what is Painter-like in a
Composition of few or many Figures 33
CHAP. VI. Of the Difference between Youth and Age, in both Sexes 38
CHAP. VII. Of the Property and Choice in the Motion
of the Members, in order to express the Passions 41
CHAP. VIII. Of the issue, or result of Thoughts, touching Histories 46
CHAP IX. Remarks on some Mistakes in Historical Compositions 51
CHAP. X. Of Richness and Probability in History 56
CHAP. XI. Of the Ordonnance of Hieroglyphic Figures 61
CHAP. XII. Of the Order, or Succession of the Motions
proceeding from the Passions 64
CHAP. XIII. Of Use and Abuse in Painting 70
CHAP. XIV. Of particular Inclination for one Branch,
whether Figures, Landscapes, Buildings, Seas, Flowers 72
CHAP. XV. Of the four Sorts of Pictures; or Compositions; what they are 76
CHAP. XVI. Of the Uses of Ovid’s Metamorphosis; and what is
further necessary to the sketching, and executing a
Composition, or Picture 80
CHAP. XVII. Of Rules for the Management of
small Figures in a large Compass; and the contrary 85
CHAP. XVIII. Of the Composition of Histories, Portraits,
Still-Life, &c. in a small Compass 87
CHAPS XIX. Of the Division of History 90
CHAP. XX. Of the Observables in a Frontispiece ·P1ate 93
CHAP. XXI. Necessary Observations in continuing a History
in several Pictures, for Halls, Galleries, &c. 103
BOOK III. OF THINGS ANTIQUE AND MODERN.
CHAP. I. The Difference between what is Antique and Modern 108
CHAP. II. Method for representing what is City-like, or elegant Modern 113
CHAP. III. The Nature of City-like Subjects; which daily afford plentiful
Materials a Modern Painter 118
CHAP. IV. Continuation of the same 123
CHAP. V. Of Dresses 127
BOOK IV. OF COLOURING.
CHAP. I. Of the Colours, and the ordering them 133
CHAP. II. Of the Property, Nature, and Colours of Dresses 140
CHAP. III. Of the Colours of Dresses, and their suiting with each other 143
CHAP. IV. Of the Disposition of shady Objects, either
distant or near, against a light Ground 147
CHAP. V. Of the Harmony of Colours 150
CHAP. VI. Of the Disposition of Irregular Objects, and
Light against Darkness; and ` the contrary 153
CHAP. VII. Of Agreeableness in Irregular and Contrasting Objects 157
CHAP. VIII. Of strong Objects against faint Grounds, and the
contrary; or, Darkness against Light, and Light against Darkness 159
CHAP. IX. Of the painting Objects dustily 161
BOOK V. OF LIGHTS AND SHADES.
CHAP. I. Of the different Lights of a Picture 163
CHAP. II. Of the Condition of the Air or Sky 166
CHAP. III. Reflections in the Water 170
CHAP. IV. Of Ground-shades according to the Difference of Light 173
CHAP. V. Of` Reflections in General 174
CHAP. VI. That Sun-shine has no more Force than common Light
with respect to Shades 177
CHAP. VII. Of the Ground Shades in Sun-shine 181
CHAP. V1II. How Sun-shine is to be represented in a Picture having
a common Light 185
CHAP. IX. That the Shades of Objects in Sun-shine are not more Glowing
than in common Light 187
CHAP. X. Of the Difference of Ground-shades, proceeding either
from the Sun or Radial Point 189
CHAP. XI. Of the Representation of different Lights in the same Picture 191
CHAP. XII. Curious Observations on Sun-shine 193
CHAP. XIII. Of the Sun’s three Qualities 194
CHAP. XIV. Of the Nature of the Sun, with respect to different Countries 107
CHAP. XV. Of the Sun’s Light upon Objects at rising and setting 199
CHAP. XVI. Of the Application of Sun-shine and other Lights 200
CHAP. XVII. Of the Properties of the Sun and other Lights in their
Essential Representations ; and of the chief Times of the Day 203
CHAP. XVIII. Of the Moon and her Representation 206
CHAP. XIX. Of the Effects of Artificial Lights, as of a Torch,
Lamp, Candle, or Fire 209
CHAP. XX. Necessary Hints in the Use of Perspective 213
CHAP. XXI. Of the different Colouring in great and small Pieces 216
CHAP. XXII. Of the Difference of Force in large and small Painting;
and the Effects of magnifying and diminishing Glasses 217
CHAP. XXIII. An Inquiry into the Difference between a large Landscape
ornamented with small Figures, and a small one with large, with
respect to the Air; the Day being supposed clear in both 221
CHAP. XXIV. Of the Lights within Doors 225
CHAP. XXV. Of the Application of Lights to the different Species
of Histories; with a Table or Ordonnance of all the Lights 227
BOOK VI. OF LANDSCAPES.
CHAP. I. Of` Landscapes in general 230
CHAP. II. Of the Light, Form, and grouping of Objects in Landscape 235
CHAP. III. Of the By-ornaments in Landscapes 236
CHAP. IV. Of immoveable Ornaments; Tombs, Houses, &c. 239
CHAP. V. Of beautiful Colouring in Landscapes 241
CHAP. VI. Of the leafing of Trees 243
CHAP. VII. Of the placing and fellowing of Landscapes 244
CHAP. VIII. Of the Lights in a Landscape 216
CHAP. IX. Of Landscapes in a small Compass 249
CHAP. X. Of painting Rooms with Landscape 252
CHAP XI. Of ornamental Painting without-doors 255
CHAP. XII. Pictures or Compositions of Venus and Adonis, for the
Embellishment of Landscapes 260
CHAP. XIII. The Fable of Dryope, for the Embellishment of Landscapes 272
CHAP. XIV.-Table of Ordonnance of Erisichton; and the Emblem
of a Satyr’s Punishment: both serving for the Embellishment
of Landscapes 280
CHAP. XV. Of the Word (Painter-like) 285
CHAP. XVI. Of Painter-like Beauty in the open Air 287
CHAP. XVII. Of Things deformed and broken, falsely called Painter-like 292
BOOK VII. OF PORTRAITURE.
CHAP. I. Of Portraits in general 1
CHAP. II. Of the Defects in the Face and other Parts 5
CHAP. III. The Observables in a Portrait, particularly that of a Woman 8
CHAP. IV. Of the Choice of Lights, Draperies, and Grounds in a
Portrait; and of the Point of Sight 11
CHAP. V. Of Portraits in Small 16
CHAP. VI. Of the Application of Requisites with respect to the different
Conditions of Persons 19
CHAP. VII. Of the suiting of Colours in Draperies 92
CHAP. VIII. Of the Imitation of great Masters in painting Portraits ;
and of copying their Pictures in general 23
BOOK VIII. OF ARCHITECTURE.
CHAP. I. Of Architecture in general 28
CHAP. II. Of the Rises of the Ornaments, Columns, and their Pedestals 31
CHAP. III. Of the Property of a Building, and Observations thereon 32
CHAP. IV. Of the Matching of the various coloured Marbles, as well
without as within a Building; with tie Management of Tombs,
Vasa, and Bacchanalian Term 36
CHAP. V. Of the Veins and Eyes in Stones used in Architecture,
as well without as within ; and how to dispose them 39
CHAP VI. Of Ruins 41
CHAP. VII. Principal Directions for painting the Ornaments of
Halls, Rooms, &c. 42
CHAP VIII. Of the Pictures proper to various Apartments 45
CHAP. IX. Description of several Pictures adapted to the Five
Orders in Architecture 51
CHAP. X. Of the Pictures in the second Story, built after the Doric Order 63
CHAP. XI. Of the Pictures in the third Story, built after the Ionic Order 71
CHAP. XII. Of the Pictures in the fourth Story, built after the Roman Order 78
CHAP. XIII. The Fable of Calisto, adapted to the Corinthian Order,
in the upper Story 87
CHAP. XIV. Description of the inward View of the Temple of Apollo 91
BOOK IX. OF THE PAINTIN OF CEILINGS, OR PLAFONDS.
CHAP. I. Of Ceiling-painting in general 93
CHAP. II. Of the usual Difficulties in Ceiling painting 94
CHAP. III. Of fore-shortening Objects in Ceilings 95
CHAP. IV. Of the Sizes of Ceiling Figures 96
CHAP. V. Method for viewing a Ceiling-piece on the Easel, as if
on the Ceiling 98
CHAP. VI. Of designing after the Life, for the Use of Ceiling Painters ib.
CHAP. VII. Of the colouring of flying Figures 101
CHAP. VIII. General Observations in Painting the Ceilings of
Halls, Galleries, &c. 102
CHAP. IX. Method for Drawing fore-shortened Buildings, Figures, Trees, &c.
after the Life 106
CHAP. X. Of the Harmony and Union of Colours in Ceiling Pieces 108
CHAP. XI. Of the Deities in sacred and profane History and Fables; and,
first, of the Difference between a sacred and profane Representation 110
CHAP. XII. Disquisition touching the Representation of the Trinity 112
CHAP. XIII. Of the Glories proper to Angels and Heathenish Deities 117
CHAP. XIV. Of the Representations of Angels and Heathenish Genii 119
CHAP. XV. Of sacred Emblems 122
CHAP. XVI. Of the Penates, Lares, and Cupids 126
CHAP. XVII. Devotional Actions of Nature 129
CHAP. XVIII. Of the different Offerings of Nations, and their Rites 134
CHAP. XIX. Of the Sacerdotal Dresses, Vessels, and other Materials
belonging to Offerings 147
BOOK X. OF STATUARY.
CHAP. I. Of Statuary in general 152
CHAP. II Of the Execution of Statuary 154
CHAP. III. Of Bass-reliefs 155
CHAP. IV. Of the Force, Property, and Management of Bass-reliefs 160
CHAP. V. Of the Draperies of Statues and Bass-reliefs 162
CHAP. Vl. Of the Attitudes of Statues 166
CHAP. VII. Of the placing of Figures upon Pedastals, Frontispieces, in
Niches, and .other Places 169
CHAP. VIII. Of the Usefulness of Modelling 173
CHAP. IX. Of the visual Decorum of a Statue, with its Pedestal, as well
within as without Doors: as also the suiting of Vases and Busts 175
CHAP. X. Of the Ornaments of the Frontispiece of Temples, Houses, &c. 176
BOOK XI. Of STILL LIFES.
CHAP. I. Of Still Life in general 178
CHAP. II. Designs for Bass-reliefs roper to Still Life 180
CHAP. III. Representations of Still Life, applicable to Particular Persons 184
CHAP. IV. Of the Origin, Nature, and Quality of the Roman Triumphal
Crowns, and other Rewards of Honour 202
CHAP. V. Of the Solemnities of the Roman Triumphs 207
CHAP. Vl. Of the Manner of the four principal and public Grecian Games,
and to whose Honour instituted 213
CHAP. VII. Of the Military Dresses and Arms of several Nations, particularly
of the Greeks and Romans 223
CHAP. VIII. Of the Origin of the several Ensigns and Shields and their
Devices, for Distinction of Nations and particular Perrsons 229
BOOK XII. OF FLOWERS.
CHAP. I. Of Flowers in general 239
CHAP. II. Of painting Flowers in Halls, Apartments, Galleries, but
principally on Ceilings for Ornament 241
CHAP. III. That a Flower painter should understand Perspective: also
the Mistake of representing Things improperly 242
CHAP. IV. Of Flowers on all Sorts ot? Grounds 243
CHAP. V. Of the Disposition of Flowers and their Colours in Festoons
and Groups 244
CHAP. VI. Continuation of the ordering and placing the Flowers 247
BOOK XIII. OF ENGRAVING.
CHAP. I. 250
CHAP. II. Of the Art of En raving in general 251
CHAP. III. Of the general Elegance requisite in a good Print; and of the
Difference between Book and other Prints 252
CHAP. IV. Of the Difference of Engraving and Etching 253
CHAP. V. Remarks on Hatching 257
CHAP. VI. Curious Remarks concerning Stippling 259
CHAP. VII. Of Etching Bass-reliefs 261
CHAP. VIII. Of Engraving, and the Management of the Strokes 263
CHAP. IX. Of the Black Art, or Mezzotinto 268
Conclusion by W. M. Craig
THE
ART OF PAINTING.
BOOK I.
OF PENCILING, SECOND TINT AND BEAUTY.
Share with your friends: |