Post by Admin on Oct 9, 2016 10:31:57 GMT
CHAP. XXV.
Of Statuary and Plastick.
PAinting is accompanied with the Arts Statuary, Plastick, Casting, and Engraving: the Inventions of Laborious Wit, which may notwithstanding be all comprehended in Architecture. The Statuary makes the likeness of things, either in Stone, Wood, or Ivory; the Plaster performs the same in Earth; the like Images the Caster performs, by casting melted
Page 71
Brass and other metals in Moulds; The Graver ex∣presses the same things in Stones and Gems. Of all which, Pomponius Gauricus among Modern Writers hath chiefly Treated. But all these Arts, together with Painting, were meerly invented by the Devil, for the nourishment of Pride, Lust, and Superstition: the Au∣thors were those, who first, according to the words of St. Paul, Chang'd the Glory of the Incorruptible God, in∣to the likeness of Corruptible man, of Birds, of Beasts, and of Serpents: the first, who contrary to Divine Command, that forbids the Graven Image, or the likness of any thing either in heaven above, or in the earth be∣neath, introduc'd Idolatry so detested of God. Of whom the wise man saith, The Idol is curs'd; and be that made the same, together with the thing made, shall suffer Torments. For the Vanity of Men, as the same Author saith, invented these Arts, to tempt the Soul of Man, and to deceive the Ignorant: And the In∣vention it self, is the Corruption of Life. However, we Christians above all other People are so mad, and carried so headlong into this corruption of Life and Manners, that in all our Courts, Houses, and Cham∣bers, we are not asham'd to keep and admire these wick∣ed Ornaments; thereby to invite Women and Vir∣gins to Wantonness, with the sight of obscene Pictures: nay, we stick not to introduce 'um into our very Tem∣ples, Chapples, and over our Altars, to the great hazard of breeding Idolatry. But of this more when we come to Treat of Religion. Now that there is a certain Au∣thority not to be contemned in Statues and Pictures, I learnt not long ago in Italy: where there happening a very great debate before the Pope, between the Au∣stin Fryars, and the Regular Canons, about the Habit of St. Austin; that is to say, whether he wore a black Stole over a white Vest, or a white Stole over a black Vest: and finding nothing in Scripture that gave Light
Page 72
toward the determination of the Question, the Judges at length thought fit to refer the whole matter to the Painters and Statuaries, resolving to give judgment according to what they should declare they had seen in Ancient Pictures and Statues: Confirm'd by this ex∣ample, I my self labouring with indefatigable diligence to find out the Original of the Monks Cowl, and not finding any that might resolve the doubt in Scrip∣ture, at length I refer'd my self to the Painters; seek∣ing the Truth of the matter in the Porches of Halls of the Monasteries where the Histories of the Old and New Testament are generally Painted. Now seeing that I could not perceive in all the Old Testament, neither any of the Priests or Prophets, no not Elias him∣self, whom the Carmelites make their Patron; I went and diligently view'd all the New Testament: There I saw Zacharias, Simeon, John Baptist, Joseph, Christ, the Apostles, Disciples, Scribes, Pharisees, High Priests, Annas, Caiphas, Herod, Pilat, and many others; but yet I could not see one Cowl among them All: till at length, examining the whole story over and over again, and by and by in the very Front of the Piece I found the Devil himself with a Cowl on, as he stood tempting Christ in the Wilderness. I was very glad to find that in a Picture, that I could observe in no Writing, that the Devil was the first Inventor of Cowls, from whom I am apt to believe the Monks and Fryars have borrowed the same, though wearing it of divers Colours, if they do not absolutely claim it by Inheri∣tance.
Of Statuary and Plastick.
PAinting is accompanied with the Arts Statuary, Plastick, Casting, and Engraving: the Inventions of Laborious Wit, which may notwithstanding be all comprehended in Architecture. The Statuary makes the likeness of things, either in Stone, Wood, or Ivory; the Plaster performs the same in Earth; the like Images the Caster performs, by casting melted
Page 71
Brass and other metals in Moulds; The Graver ex∣presses the same things in Stones and Gems. Of all which, Pomponius Gauricus among Modern Writers hath chiefly Treated. But all these Arts, together with Painting, were meerly invented by the Devil, for the nourishment of Pride, Lust, and Superstition: the Au∣thors were those, who first, according to the words of St. Paul, Chang'd the Glory of the Incorruptible God, in∣to the likeness of Corruptible man, of Birds, of Beasts, and of Serpents: the first, who contrary to Divine Command, that forbids the Graven Image, or the likness of any thing either in heaven above, or in the earth be∣neath, introduc'd Idolatry so detested of God. Of whom the wise man saith, The Idol is curs'd; and be that made the same, together with the thing made, shall suffer Torments. For the Vanity of Men, as the same Author saith, invented these Arts, to tempt the Soul of Man, and to deceive the Ignorant: And the In∣vention it self, is the Corruption of Life. However, we Christians above all other People are so mad, and carried so headlong into this corruption of Life and Manners, that in all our Courts, Houses, and Cham∣bers, we are not asham'd to keep and admire these wick∣ed Ornaments; thereby to invite Women and Vir∣gins to Wantonness, with the sight of obscene Pictures: nay, we stick not to introduce 'um into our very Tem∣ples, Chapples, and over our Altars, to the great hazard of breeding Idolatry. But of this more when we come to Treat of Religion. Now that there is a certain Au∣thority not to be contemned in Statues and Pictures, I learnt not long ago in Italy: where there happening a very great debate before the Pope, between the Au∣stin Fryars, and the Regular Canons, about the Habit of St. Austin; that is to say, whether he wore a black Stole over a white Vest, or a white Stole over a black Vest: and finding nothing in Scripture that gave Light
Page 72
toward the determination of the Question, the Judges at length thought fit to refer the whole matter to the Painters and Statuaries, resolving to give judgment according to what they should declare they had seen in Ancient Pictures and Statues: Confirm'd by this ex∣ample, I my self labouring with indefatigable diligence to find out the Original of the Monks Cowl, and not finding any that might resolve the doubt in Scrip∣ture, at length I refer'd my self to the Painters; seek∣ing the Truth of the matter in the Porches of Halls of the Monasteries where the Histories of the Old and New Testament are generally Painted. Now seeing that I could not perceive in all the Old Testament, neither any of the Priests or Prophets, no not Elias him∣self, whom the Carmelites make their Patron; I went and diligently view'd all the New Testament: There I saw Zacharias, Simeon, John Baptist, Joseph, Christ, the Apostles, Disciples, Scribes, Pharisees, High Priests, Annas, Caiphas, Herod, Pilat, and many others; but yet I could not see one Cowl among them All: till at length, examining the whole story over and over again, and by and by in the very Front of the Piece I found the Devil himself with a Cowl on, as he stood tempting Christ in the Wilderness. I was very glad to find that in a Picture, that I could observe in no Writing, that the Devil was the first Inventor of Cowls, from whom I am apt to believe the Monks and Fryars have borrowed the same, though wearing it of divers Colours, if they do not absolutely claim it by Inheri∣tance.