Nor have other nobles and gentlemen throughout the city and the state of Venice been wanting in liberality towards young artists of genius, enabling them to pursue their studies both at home and abroad, until they have completed their education. Few contributions indeed confer so much honour upon families as these; for in addition to the merit of succouring a fellow creature, and a fellow citizen, there are thus expectations to be indulged that some genius may rise up capable of conferring honour upon the arts, and perhaps restoring them to their ancient merit. We have it in our power to record various instances of this liberal spirit; we could mention a number of excellent artists who express their gratitude for the kindness of their patrons, did not the rule we have laid down for ourselves not to introduce the eulogies of living artists, in order to avoid occasion of complaint to such as may be omitted, forbid the enumeration of them. Still I may allude to an instance of it in another branch of the art, which is very generally known, and this is the generous encouragement afforded by their Excellencies Falier and Zulian, to Antonio Canova, the celebrated sculptor, encouragement to which Rome and Italy are in a great degree indebted for such an artist. He suffices to convince us, that though Fortune may indeed deprive our country of her great masterpieces of art, she cannot destroy the genius capable of reproducing them. [Footnote 87: Melchiori mentions also with commendation, Gio. Batista, father of Antonio, and pupil to Vecchia, who had been unable to assist his son Antonio, left an orphan at a very tender age.] [Footnote 88: Father Federici mentions also his son Gio. Batista, citing a fine altarpiece of his at Sorigo, and adds, that he would have become celebrated, had he not preferred the ease permitted him by a handsome fortune, to the glory of a great painter.] [Footnote 89: In the Guide of Verona, of which I availed myself, I only found one picture by Rotari in the refectory at Santa Anastasia. I inquired by whom that of S. Vincenzo, which appeared extremely beautiful, was painted. I received for answer, that it was by Balestra, but it is in fact from the hand of Rotari, and engraved by Valesi.] [Footnote 90: Melchiori gives us an account of this lady's master, not undeserving of being added to the last edition. This was the noble Gio. Antonio Lazzari, a Venetian, who had talents that rivalled those of Rosalba in crayons, had not his natural timidity proved a bar to his fame. In painting also he attempted little of an inventive character, copying much, and more particularly from Bassano with great success, as we have observed at page 211.] END OF VOL. III. J. M'Creery. Tooks Court, Chancery-lane, London. Transcriber's Notes: