"In one word, I think that young men by studying in Italy have seldom learnt much more than the names of the painters; though sometimes they have attained the amazing power of distinguishing styles,[38] and knowing by the hue of the picture the hard name of the artist,--a power which, highly as they pride themselves upon it, is little more than knowing one handwriting from another. For this they gain great credit, and are supposed vast proficients because they have travelled. They are gravely attended to by people of rank, with whom they claim acquaintance, and talk of the antique in a cant phraseology made up of half or whole Italian, to the great surprise of their hearers, who become gulls in order to pass for connoisseurs,--wonder with a foolish face of praise, and bestow unqualified admiration on the marvellous bad copies of marvellous bad originals which they have brought home as trophies, and triumphantly display to prove their discernment and taste. "Neither England nor Italy ever produced a more contemptible dauber than the late Mr. Kent; and yet he gained the prize at Rome, in England had the first people for his patrons, and, to crown the whole, was appointed Painter to the King. But in this country such men meet with the greatest encouragement, and soonest work their way into noblemen's houses and palaces.[39] "To conclude, I think that this ostentatious establishment can answer no one valuable purpose to the arts, nor be of the least use to any individual, except those who are to be elected professors and receive salaries for the _kind superintendence_ they will exercise over such of their brethren as have not so much interest as themselves.[40] "Many of the objections which I have to the institution of this Royal Academy apply with equal force to the project of the Society for the encouragement of Arts, Manufactures, and Commerce, for distributing premiums for drawings and pictures; subjects of which they are totally ignorant, and in which they can do no possible service to the community. "It is extremely natural for noblemen, or young people of fortune who have travelled and seen fine pictures and statues, to be planet-struck with a desire of being celebrated in books, like those great men of whom they have read in the lives of the painters, etc.; for it must be recollected that the popes, princes, and cardinals who patronized these painters, have been celebrated as creators of the men who created those great works: 'Shar'd all their honours, and partook their fame.'