Painters and Artists

Characteristics of great artists. The brilliant truth of a Watteau, the dead reality of a Poussin, the touching grace of a Reynolds.

“The colouring of Titian, the expression of Rubens, the grace of Raphael, the purity of Domenichino, the correggioscity of Correggio, the learning of Pŏussin, the airs of Guido, the taste of the Caracci, the grand contour of Angelo.”—Sterne.

“The April freshness of Giotto, the piety of Fra Angelo, the virginal purity of the young Raphael, the sweet gravity of John Bellini, the philosophic depth of Da Vinci, the sublime elevation of Michael Angelo, the suavity of Fra Bartolommeo, the delicacy of the Della Robbia the restrained powers of Roscellini.”

Defects of great artists.

In Michael Angelo the ankles are too narrow.

In Titian the palm of the thumb is too prominent.

In Raphael the ears are badly drawn.

In Pinturicchio both ears and hands are badly drawn.

Prince of painters. Parrhasʹios, the Greek painter, so called himself. (Fifth century B.C.)

Apelles of Cos. (Fourth century B.C.)

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Entry taken from Dictionary of Phrase and Fable, edited by the Rev. E. Cobham Brewer, LL.D. and revised in 1895.