LETTERS FROM CHINA 1835-36
61
for drawing quite a genius for it, as the Japanese have for music. I saw a Japanese book at Macao—their Encyclopaedia, a work in many volumes, full as it could hold of the most exquisite wood-cuts, about the size of this page [8′′ × 10′′]. And it is quite impossible that Art could excel the spirit, grace and truth to Nature, with which these pictures of birds, trees, flowers, animals, etc. were represented. The pictures of the beasts reminded me of the Antique (the drawings in the Museum at Naples) in the exquisite ease with which the creatures are exhibited in all their own natural attitudes; the nicest distinctions of species are observed, with wonderful accuracy and the execution is
as spirited as any lithograph I ever saw. I particularly admired the disregard of mere finish in their work, but nothing could be more useful than the adherence to everything that constitutes life and character. The botanical drawings surpass description; the true love of beauty is to be seen in the charming simplicity and fidelity of these things. They cannot combine groups apparently. Nor were their attempts at landscape at all to be compared to their other drawings. But the real Genius of Art was there as obvious as in any work that ever came from pencil or chisel. The book was a great rarity—and not to be replaced. What a pity that no nation but the indolent and incurious Dutch should be allowed to visit Japan—and that even their intercourse should be so restricted and trammelled as it is!
I am unfortunate in being shipped off from China as I am direct from my sick-room. There are many things I should wish to have enquired about before going home, and I should like to have taken home some of their books and works of
art....
•
+
77
LETTERS FROM CHINA 1835-36
61
for drawing quite a genius for it, as the Japanese have for music. I saw a Japanese book at Macao— their Encyclopaedia, a work in many volumes, full as it could hold of the most ex- quisite wood-cuts, about the size of this page [8′′ × 10′′]. And it is quite impossible that Art could excel the spirit, grace and truth to Nature, with which these pictures of birds, trees, flowers, animals, etc. were represented. The pictures of the beasts re- minded me of the Antique (the drawings in the Museum at Naples) in the exquisite ease with which the creatures are exhibited in all their own natural attitudes; the nicest distinctions of species are observed, with wonderful accuracy and the execution is
as spirited as any lithograph I ever saw. I particularly admired the disregard of mere finish in their work, but nothing could be more useful than the adherence to everything that constitutes life and character. The botanical drawings surpass description; the true love of beauty is to be seen in the charming simplicity and fidelity of these things. They cannot combine groupes (sic) apparently. Nor were their attempts at landscape at all to be compared to their other drawings. But the real Genius of Art was there as obvious as in any work that ever came from pencil or chisel. The book was a great rarity—and not to be re-placed. What a pity that no nation but the indolent and incurious Dutch should be allowed to visit Japan — and that even their intercourse should be so restricted and trammalled [sic] as it is!
I am unfortunate in being shipped off from China as I am direct from my sick-room. There are many things I should wish to have enquired about before going home, and I should like to have taken home some of their books and works of
art....
•
+
77
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