"The greatest natural genius cannot subsist on its own stock: he who resolves never to ransack any mind but his own, will be soon reduced from mere barrenness, to the poorest of all imitations; he will be obliged to imitate himself, and to repeat what he has before often repeated."
— Reynolds, Joshua (1723-1792)
Author
Place of Publication
London
Publisher
Printed for Thomas Davies
Date
December 10, 1774; 1775
Metaphor
"The greatest natural genius cannot subsist on its own stock: he who resolves never to ransack any mind but his own, will be soon reduced from mere barrenness, to the poorest of all imitations; he will be obliged to imitate himself, and to repeat what he has before often repeated."
Metaphor in Context
The mind is but a barren soil; is a soil soon exhausted, and will produce no crop, or only one, unless it be continually fertilised and enriched with foreign matter.
When we have had continually before us the great works of Art to impregnate our minds with kindred ideas; we are then, and not till then, fit to produce something of the same species. We behold all about us with the eyes of these penetrating observers; and our minds accustomed to think the thoughts of the noblest and brightest intellects, are prepared for the discovery and selection of all that is great and noble in Nature. The greatest natural genius cannot subsist on its own stock: he who resolves never to ransack any mind but his own, will be soon reduced from mere barrenness, to the poorest of all imitations; he will be obliged to imitate himself, and to repeat what he has before often repeated. When we know the subject designed by such men, it will never be difficult to guess what kind of work is to be produced. It is vain for Painters or Poets to endeavour to invent without materials on which the mind may work, and from which invention must originate. Nothing can come of nothing.
(pp. 12-13; pp. 211-12 in 1778 ed.)
When we have had continually before us the great works of Art to impregnate our minds with kindred ideas; we are then, and not till then, fit to produce something of the same species. We behold all about us with the eyes of these penetrating observers; and our minds accustomed to think the thoughts of the noblest and brightest intellects, are prepared for the discovery and selection of all that is great and noble in Nature. The greatest natural genius cannot subsist on its own stock: he who resolves never to ransack any mind but his own, will be soon reduced from mere barrenness, to the poorest of all imitations; he will be obliged to imitate himself, and to repeat what he has before often repeated. When we know the subject designed by such men, it will never be difficult to guess what kind of work is to be produced. It is vain for Painters or Poets to endeavour to invent without materials on which the mind may work, and from which invention must originate. Nothing can come of nothing.
(pp. 12-13; pp. 211-12 in 1778 ed.)
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, Dec. the 10th, 1774. By the President. (London: Printed for Thomas Davies, 1775). <Link to ECCO>
See also Sir Joshua Reynolds, Seven Discourses Delivered in the Royal Academy by the President (London: T. Cadell, 1778). <Link to Google Books>
Also reading at PGDP.
Text from A Discourse Delivered to the Students of the Royal Academy, on the Distribution of the Prizes, Dec. the 10th, 1774. By the President. (London: Printed for Thomas Davies, 1775). <Link to ECCO>
See also Sir Joshua Reynolds, Seven Discourses Delivered in the Royal Academy by the President (London: T. Cadell, 1778). <Link to Google Books>
Also reading at PGDP.
Date of Entry
07/25/2013
