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THROUGH SWEDEN. 161
torical painter; but we may apply to him the faying, “ ne futor
ultra crepidam. Before the arrival of Mr. Belanger, he was the
firft landf{cape painter in Sweden. I {peak only of his pictures in
oil colours; for, as to the art of painting in body colours, he is
ignorant of even its firtt principles. Of all the artifts that ] know
in Europe, Mr. Martin is the happieft in his folly. He is fo per-
fectly fatisfied that he is the firft painter in Europe of every kind,
that the love of glory and renown, a paffion attended often
with many painful anxieties and ftruggles, occafions no other
than the moft pleafing fenfations in his breaft. If he fhould but
touch the canvas with his pencil, there would prefently appear,
as he imagines, fome embryo of fuperior excellence. He makes
no {cruple to infinuate very plainly, that his own produdtions are
the firft in the univerfe: he puts them on a level with thofe of
the admired artifts recorded in hiftory; and concludes his pane-
gyric on himfelf by obferving, that he alone of the great painters
is now alive, and deploring the lofs that threatens the arts by his
advanced age. He is a good-natured man, and as much difpofed
to be complaifant to others, as well pleafed with himfelf, if they
will only hear his prattle. There are fome who not only have
patience to do this, but find great amufement in it; while others
of a more ferious and fevere turn either defpife his vanity, or la-
ment the weaknefs of human nature. His laft productions are in
every refpect execrable; but he has done fome things which, for
fo northerly an artift, poflefs confiderable merit. The chief ex-
cellency of his beft pieces confifts in an agreeable harmonioufnefs
Vou. I. iY; throughout
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