In this art, as in others, there are many teachers who profess to show
the nearest way to excellence, and many expedients have been invented by
which the toil of study might be saved. But let no man be seduced to
idleness by specious promises. Excellence is never granted to man but as
the reward of labour. It argues, indeed, no small strength of mind to
persevere in habits of industry, without the pleasure of perceiving those
advances; which, like the hand of a clock, whilst they make hourly
approaches to their point, yet proceed so slowly as to escape
observation. A facility of drawing, like that of playing upon a musical
instrument, cannot be acquired but by an infinite number of acts. I need
not, therefore, enforce by many words the necessity of continual
application; nor tell you that the port-crayon ought to be for ever in
your hands. Various methods will occur to you by which this power may be
acquired. I would particularly recommend that after your return from the
academy (where I suppose your attendance to be constant) you would
endeavour to draw the figure by memory. I will even venture to add, that
by perseverance in this custom, you will become able to draw the human
figure tolerably correct, with as little effort of the mind as to trace
with a pen the letters of the alphabet.

That this facility is not unattainable, some members in this academy give
a sufficient proof. And, be assured, that if this power is not acquired
whilst you are young, there will be no time for it afterwards: at least,
the attempt will be attended with as much difficulty as those experience
who learn to read or write after they have arrived to the age of
maturity.

But while I mention the port-crayon as the student's constant companion,
he must still remember that the pencil is the instrument by which he must
hope to obtain eminence. What, therefore, I wish to impress upon you is,