An Inquiry Into The Beauties Of Painting; And Into The Merits Of The Most Celebrated Painters, Ancient and Modern. By Daniel Webb, Esq; The Fourth Edition.
London:: Printed for J. Dodsley, in Pall-Mall., M.DCC.LXXVII.
Physical Description
xvi, 200 p.; 179 mm. (Octavo.)
Contents
[T.p., dedic.] - Preface - Contents - [Text].
Responsibility Note
The work is dedicated by the author 'To The Reverend Mr. Spence ... the author of Crito' [published in 1752 under the pseudonym of Sir Harry Beaumont].
References
ESTC, T136891
D. Townsend, Eighteenth century British aesthetics (1999)
; J. Dobai, Die Kunstliteratur des Klassizismus und der Romantik in England (1974-84), II, p. 718 ff.
Summary Note
The Contents list the following dialogues: I. General Plan of the Work; II. Our Capacity to judge of Painting; III. The Antiquity and Usefulness of Painting; IV. Of Design; V. Of Colouring; VI. Of the Clear Obscure; VII. Of Composition.
The work was first published in 1760. When it appeared, Winckelmann accused Webb of plagiarising the Gedanken über die Schönheit und den Geschmack in der Mahlerey of A.R. Mengs, which Mengs had shown to Webb while it was still in manuscript. As a result Mengs's essay was published (anonymously) in 1762, again in 1765. In 1765 a French version of Webb's essay appeared, and in 1766 a German version. In 1771 a third edition of Mengs's essay was published (this time under his own name and with a German translation of Webb's essay).
Both Mengs and Webb stressed the doctrine of selection, admired Raphael, Correggio and Titian, and had similar views about antiquity and about grace (much of which may be traced back to Shaftesbury and Richardson). Webb differs from Mengs in having a positive view of the depiction of the passions in art.
Reproductions
An electronic reproduction was published in 2003 (Farmington Hills, Mich.: Thomson Gale). A microfilm version was published in 1986 (Woodbridge CT: Research Publications).
Provenance
The 1761 (second) edition is recorded in RAA Library, Catalogue, 1802 (shelved at D-1-07). In 1813 Council agreed to Smirke's suggestion that 'Webb on Painting' should be purchased for the Library (RAA Council Minutes, V, 68-9, 1813 July 27).
Binding Note
18th-century half calf, marbled-papered boards; rebacked and recornered in 20th century, spine lettered 'Beauties Of Painting - Webb'.
Subject
Painting - Aesthetics - Theory - Art appreciation - Interpretation
Painting, Greek - Greece - History
Art criticism - Art history - Treatises - Great Britain - 18th century