"He will pick up from dunghills what by a nice chymistry, passing through his own mind, shall be converted into pure gold; and, under the rudeness of Gothic essays, he will find original, rational, and even sublime inventions."
— Reynolds, Joshua (1723-1792)
Author
Place of Publication
London
Publisher
Printed for Thomas Davies
Date
December 10, 1774; 1775
Metaphor
"He will pick up from dunghills what by a nice chymistry, passing through his own mind, shall be converted into pure gold; and, under the rudeness of Gothic essays, he will find original, rational, and even sublime inventions."
Metaphor in Context
In order to encourage you to imitation, to the utmost extent, let me add, that very finished Artists in the inferior branches of the art, will contribute to furnish the mind and give hints, of which a skilful painter, who is sensible of what he wants, and is in no danger of being infected by the contact of vicious models, will know how to avail himself. He will pick up from dunghills what by a nice chymistry, passing through his own mind, shall be converted into pure gold; and, under the rudeness of Gothic essays, he will find original, rational, and even sublime inventions.
(p. 28, p. 237 in 1778 edition)
(p. 28, p. 237 in 1778 edition)
Categories
Provenance
Reading at Project Gutenberg and Google Books
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
