P23 
attainment, the highest refinement in art, and 
without which {every thing else is merely 
mechanical, may be hrougllt to a decided point, 
in all the variety by Iwhich it is distinguished 
through the animated world. 
" On this ground, and on this alone, rose 
Phidias and Apelles to the celebrity which they 
held among the Greeks; and among the Italians, 
Leonardo da Vinci, Michael Angelo, Raphael, 
Titian, Correggio, and some others, who became 
the completest models in sculpture and painting. 
Their predecessors, indeed, in both countries, 
had for a considerable time been preparing the 
way, but not having equally studied the best 
means, or those means not having been equally 
before them, it was reserved of course for the 
great chatacters I have mentioned, to unite phi- 
losophical with professional tr_-uth, and to exhibit 
to the world in their works the standards of style. 
From 
the 
same 
source 
arose 
another 
COH- 
sequence, ever worthy and pleasing to be 
mentioned;--the exhibition of  those pep 
fections was always accompanied. by that ardeng 
yatronage, which not only cheered their minds,