Page 60

.10                    RUI)IMENTS OF DRAWING.
advised is sincerely believed to be the surest and most direct to the attainment
of that objecL
It is no experiment, but one that has been well tested and proved, claiming
no novelty, beyond
its adaptation to the wants and purposes of our time and country, divesting
the art of all
mystery, and placing it within the reach and comprehension of every one.
   72. Some who have, perhaps, filled their minds with high aspirations,
may look with disdain
upon the simple beginning placed before them, "as matters for children,"
and turn over leaf by
leaf in search of something to strike their fancy, and yet, they may not
be able to draw two straight
lines, nor two crooked ones either, to a given purpose, with the accuracy
of many an urchin on
the school-bench, who has only started when they considered themselves already
far on the way.
Let such reflect seriously upon this self-deception, and let them be assured,
that the higher
their aspirations, the more they will require the aid of such elementary
knowledge to realize
them.  It is a short task, that will well repay the labor bestowed, even
to those most richly
endowed with the gift of genius; for by such aid will they most surely develop
that genius, and
reach the goal of their highest ambition.
   73. Before entering upon the ~tady of the whole figure, some degree of
attention should be
bestowed upon the delineation of the hand and foot; both of which present
difficulties to the
beginner, and from these very difficulties,are well calculated to strengthen
that general capacity
which should be his aim, and which is an essential qualification in a draughtsman;
       more
irregular and less balanced in their parts and proportions than the head,
the pupil is compelled
to rely more upon his eye and judgment in ascertaining the modulations of
their form and
outline, the proportions of the parts, and their relation to one another.
 But, if he has carefully
studied and practised one of the first and most simple examples placed before
him (32), he pos-
sesses the understanding of a principle from which he will derive much assistance.
 If he has not
hurried forward too rapidly, and has bestowed proper attention upon what
has been already urged,
in reference to the delineation of the individual features of the head, he
will soon find the diffi-
culties encountered, in his first attempts in drawing the hand or foot, gradually
lessened, as he
becomes familiar with the application to them, as to every other object,
of one of the first and
leading principles of design (21).  If he is not already, he will soon be
convinced that the time
and study this knowledge has cost him have been well bestowed, and that he
has done better, and
advanced more surely, than if he had filled his port-folio with what might
seem higher attempts;
but, from which he would have derived but little permanent advantage.