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worthy of such universal applause - such unvaried repetition, yet the highest employments of the faculties bestowed upon him, & which redound to the glory of his maker, if they are entitled to the admiration of the few who are around him, may be advantageously repeated for [[strikethrough]] the [[/strikethrough]] mutual enjoyment [strikethrough] of others [/strikethrough] - And repeated how many times? I answer as many times as Curiosity may require it - as many times as taste may be gratified in the sight of it - as many times as any good may arise from it. The translation of a beautiful painting into the language of the Engraver, is but an imperfect Copy of the Original, being deficient in Colour; yet is it most admirable, as it reminds us of the painting, extending the knowledge of it to a great number of persons who would not otherwise know the merit of [[strikethrough]] the [[/strikethrough]] its Author, or enjoy the beauties of his composition. How should we limit the number of its impressions? Surely by no other criterion than the capacity of the Plate to yield them correctly, for as many Portfolios as can be found in the possession of the lovers of Art and excellence. Away with the mean spirit that would destroy a precious engraved Plate, after a few impressions have been taken, merely to enhance the price of them, by making them rare! It is the imposition of quackery upon the heart of selfishness-it is the demon of destruction that would glut on its own Vitals.
It is an Antiquarian weakness to value nothing but what is unique. In the pursuit + study of excellence, if anything should be found superior to all others of its kind, the possessor may be proud of his acquisition, + set a high value on it, and he may be permitted to enjoy the ostentatious privilege of its display; but it is a selfish enjoyment, + not the more meretorious that it often creates a spirit of envy, + the sin of covetousness. Such an individual hoards his treasure, without enlarging his enjoyment, or considering the good of the public.
There are two motives which should influence artists + amateurs in favour of copies. The young artist by copying will learn the method + principles of the Master whose works he thus effectively studies, better than by merely looking at them & endeavouring to think how they were executed. But independently of the benefit of the Student of Painting, the practice of making Copies, + the effort to make them equal to the originals