'firmamentos' and burials and
in all other operations, movements and actions. I leave out all the
handicrafts and arts, of which painting is the principal fount, of which
some are rivers which spring from it, such as sculpture and architecture;
some are brooks, such as mechanical trades; and some are stagnant ponds,
which do not flow (such as useless handicrafts like cutting out with
scissors and such like), formed from the waters of the flood when drawing
overflowed its banks in old time and inundated everything under its
dominion and empire, as one sees in the works of the Romans, all done in
the manner of painting. In all their painted buildings and fabrics, in all
works in gold, silver, or in metals, in all their vases and ornaments, and
even in the elegance of their coins, and in their dress and armour, in
their triumphs as well as in all their other operations and works, one
easily recognises how, in the time when they held sway over all the earth,
my lady painting was the universal sovereign and mistress of all their
deeds and trades and sciences, extending herself even to writing, and
composing or writing histories. So that whosoever well considers and
understands human works, will find without doubt that they are all either
painting itself or some part of painting; and although the painter be
capable of inventing what has not as yet been found, and of doing all the
handicrafts of the others with much more grace and elegance than their own
professors, yet no one but he can be a true painter or draughtsman."

"I am satisfied," answered Lactancio, "and understand better the great
power of painting, which, as you stated, is seen in all things of the
ancients and even in writing and composing. And perhaps notwithstanding
your great imagination you will not have been as much struck as I have
been with the conformity which letters have with painting (for you will
certainly hold letters to be a part of painting); nor by how these two
sciences are such legitimate sisters that, if one be separated from the
other, neither is perfect, although it seems that these present times keep
them in some way separated. But yet every learned and consummate man will
find that in all his works he is always exercising to a great extent the
office of a good painter, painting and colouring some intention of his
with much care and devotion. Now in opening the old books, the famous ones
are few which are not like painting; and it is certain t