COMPOSI'TION, in a general sense, the putting together, and of sev eral things, so as to form of the whole ono mass or compound-- Composition of ideas, an act of the mind, whereby it unites sev eral ideas into one conception, or complex idea.—In literature, the act of inventing or combining ideas, famishing; them with words, arranging them in order, and com mitting them to writing.—In logic, a method of reasoning, whereby we proceed from some general self-evident truth, to other particular and singular ones. This method of reasoning is opposed to a.naly sis, which begins with firAt principles, and, by a train of reasoning from them. deduces the propositions or truths sought ; but composition or synthesis collects the scattered parts of knowledge, and com bines them into a system, so that the un derstanding is enabled distinct ly to follow truth through its different stages of gra dations.—In music, the art or act of form ing tunes, either to he perform e•1 vocally or instrumentally.—In commerce, ;in agreement entered into between all in solvent debtor and his creditor, by which the latter accepts ft part or the debt in compensation for the whole.—In paint ing„ this word expresses the idea of a whole created out of single parts, and to this idea the whole ought to conform. In the whole there ought never to be too much or too little ; all parts must be ne cessary, and must refer to one another, being understood only under such rela tionship. This does not imply that every part must be co-ordinate, seine parts must be of more importance than others, and all must be subordinate to a centre point, which raises them, while it is raised by them. This quality, which is seen in natural landscape, we call organism ; we desire to produce it in art, and require pictures to be organic. This is valid as well in simple composition as in com pound, which as a composition of compo sitions, represents many wholes All this, though not attained, is at least at tempted by those who call themselves ar tists. The following is less acknowledged but not less important, viz., every com position consists of three elements, whose one-sided predominance in painters an 1 connoisseurs produces three schools of error ; while the fervent working together of these elements alone makes the work a living whole, and gives it that which is expressed by the Latin word compositio a quieting satisfying effect. The art ist's
subject furnishes the first element. Eve ry subject has its own law of representa tion, which the artist must clearly under stand if lie would depict it truly upon the canvas. This comprehension is to be ac quired only by his forgetting himself in the contemplation of his subject. It is the power of doing this which we prize so highly in poetry under the term objec tivity. By thus treating the subject, the artist becomes a splendid organ, through which nature speaks like a history to sentient man : thus followed out, the ma jesty of Rome in Rubens, and the cheer fulness of nature ill Claude, are conveyed to posterity. The second element of composition is fixed by the given space which is to be filled by color, form and light, harmonized according to the laws of art ; then a history adorning a space becomes the property of art. The third element lies in the mind of the artist ; as " woman's judgment is tinged by her af fections," so the artist who cannot imbue his subject with his own feelings will fail to animate his canvas. For though every legitimate subject dictates the laws of its representation, yet every cultivated man sees objects in his own light., and no one may say that he alone sees rightly. Ile who-knows not how to give that to his pictures, by which they become, not from manner but from subject, his pictures, is no artist, hut a mere copyist, even could lie imitate Philias or Scopas perfectly. Excess of individualiA111 !Calls the artist to depiet himself of 1 he subject, to siteriliee this is :1, favorite caprice, and in allegorizing- his own dreams to confuse the action as well as the spectator ; but if lie represent it. truthfully, working it with pictorial effect and stamping it, with his genius, he has composed, and his work is completed, satisfying all requisitions.