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The ivory requiring to have the polish taken off and be brought to a granular surface before the Col. will adhere to it - and then but limited by so at best. & very slowly absorbent.  His pigments are precisely those used in Oil - but in water - and therefore less in depth and richness and can only be made aproximately so, by the use of gum or musilage - not an agreeable working medium, Is much less fluent and flowing in management than the Oil, And very difficult light and flowing lines of light on dark - of which nothing is easier in the oil practice. The number of hours actual work are very far greater than are required on the same kind of work in oil the delicacy of touch so much greater as to require greater steadiness of hand. And consequently more confining & exhausting to the system and the Eyes as a consequence far more tried - and sooner used up - And Comparative Age & inability to perform the work sooner obtained (note Baker) - To all of which may be added that the recompense is scarcely - if one half. And the reputation attendant thereon not one quarter what is awarded to a no better work in Oil - be its size what it may - Have we said enough on the subject.  We think we have and if there be any - having read this and believing it (and it is the experience of a 40 years practice in NY. And yet enter the lists of the so called "Miniature painters Art All we can say is that we think he is entitled to the Cap and bells for his pains.

* Drawing in small say portraiture - less than the size of life - is of which I speak with positivenes having practiced in both - far more dificult than drawing the size of the object represented always of course omitting the extraordinary large - which of course possesses the [[objectivity?]] or difficultly reversed) - You have not only to draw the feature or part under consideration with the same care, or accuracy but to be constantly on the watch to see that its comparative proportion is maintained - no measurements even vertical ones can be had - Every thing is comparative - which is not the case when the work is of the size of the object represented. Thus if one says the nose is too long (perpendicularly) if can be measured and proved or disproved &c. Not so the lesser work. One is only one - if two is two -

Thus the above criticism could be answered by the artist by saying no the nose is not too long.  The forehead & chin are too short - but on the contrary assume the forehead & chin as correct - The nose may be too long - the discussion [[illegible]] It can not be measure de facto - And for this fact alone comparative [[illegible]] other more difficult of execution & more trying