mean than by reminding you of what
was taught us by the Professor of Anatomy, in respect to the natural
position and movement of the feet. He observed that the fashion of
turning, them outwards was contrary to the intent of nature, as might be
seen from the structure of the bones, and from the weakness that
proceeded from that manner of standing. To this we may add the erect
position of the head, the projection of the chest, the walking with
straight knees, and many such actions, which are merely the result of
fashion, and what nature never warranted, as we are sure that we have
been taught them when children.

I have mentioned but a few of those instances, in which vanity or caprice
have contrived to distort and disfigure the human form; your own
recollection will add to these a thousand more of ill-understood methods,
that have been practised to disguise nature, among our dancing-masters,
hair-dressers, and tailors, in their various schools of deformity.

However the mechanic and ornamental arts may sacrifice to fashion, she
must be entirely excluded from the art of painting; the painter must
never mistake this capricious changeling for the genuine offspring of
nature; he must divest himself of all prejudices in favour of his age or
country; he must disregard all local and temporary ornaments, and look
only on those general habits that are everywhere and always the same. He
addresses his works to the people of every country and every age; he
calls upon posterity to be his spectators, and says with Zeuxis, _In
aeternitatem pingo_.

The neglect of separating modern fashions from the habits of nature,
leads to that ridiculous style which has been practised by some painters
who have given to Grecian heroes the airs and graces practised in the
court of Louis XIV.; an absurdity almost as great as it would have been
to have dressed them after the fashion of that court.

To avoid this error, however, and to retain the true simplicity of
nature, is a task more difficult than at first sight it may appear. The
prejudices in favour of the fashions and customs that we have been used
to, and which are justly called a second nature, make it too often
difficult to distinguish that which is natural from that which is the
result of education; they frequently even give a predilection in favour
of the artificial mode; and almost every one is apt to be guided by those
local prejudices who has not chastised his mind, and regulated