no crop, or only one, unless it be continually fertilised and enriched
with foreign matter.

When we have had continually before us the great works of art to
impregnate our minds with kindred ideas, we are then, and not till then,
fit to produce something, of the same species. We behold all about us
with the eyes of these penetrating observers, and our minds, accustomed
to think the thoughts of the noblest and brightest intellects, are
prepared for the discovery and selection of all that is great and noble
in nature. The greatest natural genius cannot subsist on its own stock:
he who resolves never to ransack any mind but his own will be soon
reduced, from mere barrenness, to the poorest of all imitations; he will
be obliged to imitate himself, and to repeat what he has before often
repeated. When we know the subject designed by such men, it will never
be difficult to guess what kind of work is to be produced.

It is vain for painters or poets to endeavour to invent without materials
on which the mind may work, and from which invention must originate.
Nothing can come of nothing.

Homer is supposed to be possessed of all the learning of his time. And
we are certain that Michael Angelo and Raffaelle were equally possessed
of all knowledge in the art which was discoverable in the works of their
predecessors.

A mind enriched by an assemblage of all the treasures of ancient and
modern art will be more elevated and fruitful in resources in proportion
to the number of ideas which have been carefully collected and thoroughly
digested. There can be no doubt that he who has the most materials has
the greatest means of invention; and if he has not the power of using