ufficiently general for all our purposes. Such are the
great events of Greek and Roman fable and history, which early education
and the usual course of reading have made familiar and interesting to all
Europe, without being degraded by the vulgarism of ordinary life in any
country. Such, too, are the capital subjects of Scripture history,
which, besides their general notoriety, become venerable by their
connection with our religion.

As it is required that the subject selected should be a general one, it
is no less necessary that it should be kept unembarrassed with whatever
may any way serve to divide the attention of the spectator. Whenever a
story is related, every man forms a picture in his mind of the action and
the expression of the persons employed. The power of representing this
mental picture in canvas is what we call invention in a painter. And as
in the conception of this ideal picture the mind does not enter into the
minute peculiarities of the dress, furniture, or scene of action, so when
the painter comes to represent it he contrives those little necessary
concomitant circumstances in such a manner that they shall strike the
spectator no more than they did himself in his first conception of the
story.

I am very ready to allow that some circumstances of minuteness and
particularity frequently tend to give an air of truth to a piece, and to
interest the spectator in an extraordinary manner. Such circumstances,
therefore, cannot wholly be rejected; but if there be anything in the art
which requires peculiar nicety of discernment, it is the disposition of
these minute circumstantial parts which, according to the judgment
employed in the choice, become so useful to truth or so injurious to
grandeur.

However, the usual and most dangerous error is on the side of minuteness,
and, therefore, I think caution most necessary where most have failed.
The general idea constitutes real excellence. All smaller things,
however perfect in their way, are to be sacrificed without mercy to the
greater. The painter will not inquire what things may be admitted
without much censure. He will not think it enough to show that they may
be there; he will show that they must be there, that their absence would
render his picture maimed and defective.

Thus, though to the principal group a second or third be added, and a
second and third mass of light, care must be yet taken that these
subordinate actions and lights, neithe