But as it is not lawful in such a country for any one
to make more show than his neighbour, by giving commissions to painters so
as to make themselves out rich and well-to-do, with how much more reason
ought this profitable art and science to be made use of in the obedient
and peaceful kingdoms where God permits one man to incur all these
magnificent expenses and carry out all the sumptuous works that his taste
and honour may desire and demand, particularly as it is such a generous
art that one person can do alone and without any adviser what many men
together cannot do? And a prince would be doing a great wrong to
himself--to say nothing of the fine arts--if, when he obtains quietness and
saintly peace, he does not undertake great enterprises in painting both
for the ornamentation and glory of his estate and for his private
contentment and the recreation of his mind. And then in times of peace
there are so many things in which painting may be of use, that it seems to
me that peace is obtained with so much labour of arms, for nothing else
but in order to do her work, and carry out enterprises with the quiet
which she merits and demands, after the great services she has rendered in
war. For what name will remain alive in consequence of a great victory or
a great feat of arms, if afterwards, when quiet comes, it be not kept in
perpetual memory (a thing so important and necessary amongst men), by
virtue of painting and architecture, in arches, triumphs and tombs, and in
many other ways.
Pages:
305
306
307
308
309
310
311
312
313
314
315
316
317
318
319
320
321
322
323
324
325
326
327
328
329