On Imitable Sciences: Why Painting Is Unique and Noble
Painting cannot be inherited, copied, imprinted or multiplied like letters, sculpture or printed books.
This leaf argues that although letters convey words more faithfully than painting, the science that represents nature's works is more admirable than one representing the works of men, such as poetry. A chapter 'On the imitable sciences' places painting first among the sciences that cannot be handed down by inheritance: it cannot be taught to one nature denies it, cannot be copied like letters, imprinted like sculpture, or multiplied like printed books, and so alone stays noble and unique. It closes by noting how the greatest kings of the Orient go veiled, and how paintings of divine deities are kept continually covered. The running header reads 'PRIMA' with the folio number, and a brief note in another hand appears in the right margin.
On this page
Imitating nature is more admirable than imitating words
Letters represent words to the sense more truthfully than painting does, yet the science that represents the works of nature is more admirable than one representing the works of men—that is, words, as poetry and the like are.
Painting is first among the non-inheritable sciences
Imitable sciences let the disciple make himself equal to the author, but are less excellent than those that cannot be left by inheritance. Painting is first of these: it is not taught to one nature denies it, as mathematics are, nor copied as letters are, where the copy equals the original.
Unlike sculpture, painting cannot be imprinted
Painting is not imprinted as sculpture is, whose impression equals the original in the virtue of the work, nor does it make infinite children as printed books do. It alone remains noble, honors its author, and stays precious and unique.
Sacred and royal images kept veiled
The greatest kings of the Orient go veiled and covered, believing they diminish their fame by divulging their presence; and the paintings representing the divine deities are kept continually covered.