Page images
PDF
EPUB
[graphic]

tion; neither are the preparatory steps every where possible, nor simple enough. A seat purposely contrived would be more convenient. The shade should be taken on post paper, or rather on thin oiled paper, well dried. Let the head and back be supported by a chair, and the shade fall on the oil paper behind a clear, flat, polished glass. Let the drawer sit behind the glass, holding the frame with his left hand, and, having a sharp black lead pencil, draw with the right. The glass, in a detached sliding frame, may be raised or lowered, according to the height of the person. The bottom of the glass frame, being thin, will be best of iron, and should be raised so as to rest steadily upon the shoulder. In the centre, upon the glass, should be a small piece of wood or iron, to which fasten a small round cushion, supported by a short pin, scarcely half an inch long, which also may be raised or lowered, and against which the person drawn may lean.

CHAP. XLIII.

Description of Plate VI.

Number I. Mendelsohn.

IN the forehead and nose penetration and sound understanding are evident. The mouth is much more delicate than the mouth of 2.

Number II. SPALDING.

Clear ideas, love of elegance, purity, accuracy of thought and action; does not easily admit the unnatural. The forehead not sufficiently characteristic, but fine taste in the nose.

Number III. ROCHOW.

Has more good sense; prompt, accurate perception of truth, and delicacy, than 4: but I suspect less acuteness.

Number IV. NICOLAI.

Whoever hesitates concerning the character of this head, never can have observed the forehead. This arch, abstractedly considered, especially in the upper part, has more capacity than Nos. 2 and 3. In the upper outline, also, of the under part, understanding and exquisite penetration cannot be overlooked,

Number V.

One of those masculine profiles which generally please. Conceal the under chin, and an approach to greatness is perceptible; except that greater variation in the outline is wanting, especially in the nose and forehead. The choleric phlegmatic man is visible in the whole; especially in the eyebrows, nose, and bottom part of the chin; as likewise are integrity, fidelity, goodness, and complaisance.

Number VI. LAVATER.

This shade, though imperfect, may easily be known. It must pass without comment, or rather the commentary is before the world, is in this book. Let that speak; I am silent.

CHAP. XLIV.

A Word to Travellers.

THERE appear to me to be three things indispensable to travellers, health, money, and physiognomy. Therefore a physiognomonical word to travellers. I could wish indeed, that, instead of a word, a traveller's physiognomonical companion were written; but this must be done by an experienced traveller. In the mean time I shall bid him farewell, with the following short advice:

[ocr errors]

What do you seek, travellers? what is your wish? What would you see more remarkable, more singular, more rare, more worthy to be examined, than the varieties of humanity? This indeed is fashionable. You inquire after men; you seek the wisest, best, and greatest men, especially the most famous. Why is your curiosity limited to seeing only? Would it not be better you should illuminate your own minds by the light of others, and animate yourselves by their ardour?

His curiosity is childish, which is merely confined to seeing, whose ambition desires only to say, I have beheld that man. He who would disregard views so confined must study such men physiognomonically; if he would learn wisdom, he must be able to compare and judge of the relation between their works, their fame, and their form. By this only may much be learned. By this may the stream be compared to the fountain, the quality of the waters examined, their course, their gentle murmurs, or more boisterous war. The inquirer may ask, what is the degree of originality of those men, what is borrowed, what is internal, what external? This forehead, and these eyebrows, will thus versify, thus translate, thus criticise; therefore, on this eye depends the fate of the writer, the blockhead, or the man of genius. This nose thus estimates the mortal and the immortal, in human performances. As are the

features, so will be the mind.

Yes, scholars of nature, you have much to learn from the countenances of famous men. In them you will read, that the wasp will dare to alight on the nose of the hero. To me it will be pleasure when you have acquired this physiognomonical sensation; for, without this, you will but travel in the dark; you will but be led through a picture-gallery blindfold, only that you might say, I too have been in that gallery.

Could I travel unknown, I would also visit artists, men of learning, and philosophers, men famous in their respective countries; but it

« PreviousContinue »