DESIGN

There is no Art or Science in the world that a skillful Painter is not obliged to have some knowledge of. Nature provides more advantage to a lively and cheerful Spirit than Instruction can to the contrary. Don't we see that among the most skillful Masters, who brought this Art to the highest degree of perfection, there are many more who breathed joy and pleasure than those who were melancholic and gloomy? RAPHAEL, POLYDORE DE CARAVAGGIO, LEONARDO DA VINCI, PERYNDEL VAGA, the PARMIGIANO, PRIMATICCIO, PIETRO DA CORTONA, TINTORETTO, GIORGIONE, LOUIS & ANNIBALE CARRACCI, ALBANI, BASSANO, LANFRANCO & various others were all lively and full of vivacity. Just as Birds have wings to fly, as a certain Author said, they fold them back when they feel the need to rest. We can say the same of Painters, who, with lively and ardent spirits, also take a break. But when heavy and burdensome Spirits want to rise, they resemble the unfortunate ICARUS, whose artificial wings could not sustain him in the air.

It is certain that the best way is to engage the Youth in study and Sciences, because, whether they have money or not, they always have that with them, and they owe their Parents for the good education they received. Besides, an adversity of fortune, like, as we say, a Fire, a Shipwreck, or a Theft, can suddenly strip us of all our Goods; not to mention Luxury and Debauchery, which increase daily, dull the Spirit, and usually spring from poor Education. This is why PYTHAGOREANS rightly said that Education was the foundation of Cities, and that the prosperity of States depended on the good education of Children; because it would be very difficult to retain in duty Peoples raised in rebellion. Add to this: that Nature hardly guides us but towards our own Interest, and that Education teaches us to pursue Public interest. Nature makes us aspire to Freedom; and Education obliges us to Obedience. How often do we not see brilliant Geniuses failing due to lack of cultivation? Even HORACE teaches us that Education surpasses Nature. The most lamentable thing is that the world is so corrupted that even lamenting does not seem to be in its nature.

Therefore, as the saying goes, Times, to Manners: It is thus that Virtue and Sciences are neglected. Children are only instructed based on the principle of necessity. If they are to possess great Goods one day, they are warned early, and allowed to spend their lives in luxury, the vanities of the age, games, debauchery, and all kinds of excess. Misguided affection for Children engages them in improper conduct, and instead of binding them first to some Science, and teaching them to follow the rules of Virtue, we put Power in the wrong place, as the Proverb says, into the sifter, and we fear the Pirate, who believes only in herself. CICERO says it is a great misfortune, and that Men assimilate almost all disorders with their milk & the errors in which they are plunged. A good Father of the family turns these first instances to instill what is most useful and deserves the most esteem. Musical exercises, Dancing, Fencing, and Riding are not suitable for everyone: these Amusements are only for people of quality, and those who can afford them.

Translation Notes

Pythagoreans: A reference to the followers of Pythagoras, whose philosophies on education and personal betterment were influential.
Icarus: A character from Greek mythology who flew too close to the sun with wings of feathers and wax, which melted, causing him to fall into the sea.
Horace: Roman poet noted for his teachings on the value of education.
Sifter (in the Proverb): Development of one's abilities in an improper context or setting.