ABSTRACT
The painter not only takes a delight in nature, he has a new and exquisite source of pleasure opened to him in the study and contemplation of works of art. It has been made a question, whether the / artist, or the mere man of taste and natural sensibility, receives most pleasure from the contemplation of works of art? According to the author, this question might be answered by another as a sort of experimentum crucis, namely, whether any one out of that 'number numberless' of mere gentlemen and amateurs, who visited Paris felt as much interest, as much pride or pleasure in the display of the most striking monuments of art as the humblest student would? Knowledge is pleasure as well as power. No one but the artist who has studied nature and contended with the difficulties of art, can be aware of the beauties, or intoxicated with a passion for painting.
