Comparative physiognomy; or, Resemblances between men and animals . a particular aptitude for everything Italian, or for thoseartistic things that are represented in the horse: and notmerely do they appreciate these things, but they imitate andimprove. As the horse has some super-excellent qualities im-parted to him by the English, and is a great favorite of theirs,so art is fostered and improved, and has a certain quietude,softness, serenity, and exquisiteness, imparted to it in Eng-land ; and in this respect it is happy there, though it lives amore charmed life in Italy. THE HORSE. 123 CHAPT
Comparative physiognomy; or, Resemblances between men and animals . a particular aptitude for everything Italian, or for thoseartistic things that are represented in the horse: and notmerely do they appreciate these things, but they imitate andimprove. As the horse has some super-excellent qualities im-parted to him by the English, and is a great favorite of theirs,so art is fostered and improved, and has a certain quietude,softness, serenity, and exquisiteness, imparted to it in Eng-land ; and in this respect it is happy there, though it lives amore charmed life in Italy. THE HORSE. 123 CHAPTER XIX TVe have observed that artists resemble horses. They arelike them in the lines that compose the features, in the bear-ing of the body, in theirgait and carriage, in thespirit which they manifestin their motions and thenceinfuse into their work, andwith which also they in-spire the beholder. TheAndalusian horse, whichwe see represented below,is like an artist painting abattle-field, or a storm atsea. With his flashing eyehe dashes the colors uponthe canvass. 124 COMPARATIVE PHYSIOGNOMY. creation of his own imagination ; holds, contemplates thescene with caution and pride, and then dashes on again!Courage and fear are equally mingled in him: his successdepends as much upon one as upon the other, and both areindispensable. Like the artist, he takes in the whole at aglance, and carefully observes the details. And the artist —how boldly he dashes about the lines, like a horse in thebattle-field ; and yet how cautiously, lest the labor in detailsshould not contribute to the harmony of the whole, and theproject should be crowned with defeat! When all is right inthe surroundings, how confidently he dashes into the midst —how full of fire; and yet how cautious, in the midst of confu-sion and smoke, to keep his place, to be governed by the rein,and to preserve the equilibrium between courage and fear!As he approaches the hour of his triumph or defeat, whatgreat need has he of
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