Page:Philosophical Transactions - Volume 004.djvu/67

 In another Piece, where Titian represents the Body of I. Christ carried to the Grave, M. de Champagne, the Elder, observes the dexterity of the Master in ordering the Colours and the Light. To make the Leggs of the Picture (which first present themselves)to stand out, he hath wrapped them about with a very white linnen sheet, and hath cloathed Nicodemus, who holds them, with a very vivid and very clear Lacque: On the contrary, to link the rest of the Body, he hath io taken the Light of the Picture, that the Shadow of Ioseph of Arimatbea, who helps to support the Leggs, falls on its head and Shoulders; which also contributes to impress on the Body the image of Death. The Order of the Colours is also very remarkable in the Cloaths. For betwixt the Green habit of Ioseph of Arimathea, and the Blew Mantle of the Blessed Virgin, is the yellow habit of Magdalen, wherein what is brown and dusky, is temper'd, and borrows of the different colours about it; that the Eye may pass by degrees from one of these colours to the other. Add because the Sleeve of Magdalen, which is of a bright yellow, is neer the habit of Nicodemus, which is also of a lively Colour; the Artist, to hinder that those two vivid colours may not entrench on one another, hath turn'd up Nicodemus's Sleeve against the yellow so that Rom the Shadow of one of these colours one passeth to the shadow of the other.

The Art of the Picture, spoken of in the fifth Conference, is no less remarkable. In this Piece, done by P. Veronese, is seen a Woman whose Carnation colour is so fresh and bright, that it dazleth the Eyes: M. Nocret examining, what may cause this beauty, observeth, that it proceeds in part from hence, that the Master hath ingeniously drawn before this Woman a Child cloathed in brown; behind her, a man in black; and on her side, a Negro, who maketh an admirable Concert with the great luster an splendor of that Carnation.

The two last Conferences, treating of two pieces of M. Poussin, doe furnish among other things; very elegant Examples of different Characters suting different persons. This Master having to represent many persons gathering Manna, gives to them all different postures, becoming their humor; on the fore-part of the Picture there are two youths; who following Rh