"The daily food and nourishment of the mind of an Artist is found in the great works of his predecessors."
— Reynolds, Joshua (1723-1792)
Author
Place of Publication
London
Publisher
Printed by Thomas Cadell
Date
December 10, 1784; 1785
Metaphor
"The daily food and nourishment of the mind of an Artist is found in the great works of his predecessors."
Metaphor in Context
The daily food and nourishment of the mind of an Artist is found in the great works of his predecessors. There is no other way of becoming great himself. Serpens nisi Serpentem commederit non fit draco, is a remark of whimsical Natural History, which I have read, I do not recollect where; but however false as to Dragons, it is applicable enough to Artists.
(pp. 18-19)
(pp. 18-19)
Categories
Provenance
Reading
Citation
From 1769 to 1772 Reynolds' lectures were delivered annually, with each discourse published shortly after its delivery. After 1772, the lectures were delivered biennially. The first seven discourses were collected and published together in 1778. In 1797, the first collected edition of all fifteen appeared, with a second edition issued in 1798. See the ODNB.
Text from A Discourse Delivered to the Students of the Royal Academy, on the Distribution of the Prizes, December 10, 1784. By the President. (London: Printed by Thomas Cadell, 1785). <Link to ECCO>
Text from A Discourse Delivered to the Students of the Royal Academy, on the Distribution of the Prizes, December 10, 1784. By the President. (London: Printed by Thomas Cadell, 1785). <Link to ECCO>
Date of Entry
07/25/2013
