In reality, whether the design is skilfully sketching-in free hand, or traced, is of not much significance.
The enthusiastic but uninitiated amateur who desires to reproduce results at the expense of another's experience, has no alternative, and is not to be censured for resorting to mechanical rather than artistic means.
The most humble and unassuming efforts should be encouraged, and every available means adopted to cherish an awakened interest and develop a dormant talent ; and to promote this industry all resources are justifiable.
Without the facility of tracing, very many would be intirely deprived of the pleasure the painting affords. Unquestionably, those who can draw posses a vast advantage over those who cannot, as they are not compelled to produce servile imitations ; but there is but little merit, and still less interest, attached to copying directly from the flat, instead of the actual, model.
Under any and all circumstances, tracing, it must be admitted, is infinitely preferable to bad drawing ; besides, there is even an art in tracing that few realize.
Tracing correctly is something to be acquired by practice. The tracing of the average amateur is lacking in precision and decision of outline, the
