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they may be in delineation, which have not their
actions and expressions springing from the
subject in which they are the actors, can only
be considered as academical efforts, without the
impress of mental power, and without any
philosophical attention to the truth of the
subject which the artist intended to illustrate.
" Leonardo da Vinci is the first who had afull
and right conception of the principle which I
wish to inculcate, and he has shown it in his
picture of the Last Supper. But it is necessary
to distinguish what parts of the picture deserve
consideration. It is the decision, the appro-
priate character of the apostles to the subject;
the significance of expression in their several
countenances, and the diversity; of action in each
figure; their actions seemingly in perfect unison
with their minds, and their figures individually
in unison with their respective situations; some
are confused at the words spoken by our
Saviour: " There is one amongst you who
shall betray me others are thrown under
impressions of a different feeling. In this
respect the picture has left us without an appeal,