The first Sketch of a History Piece must be very slight, and the Figures very imperfectly form'd; your principal regard being to the justness of their situation: having adjusted the *Ordonnance of the Piece, you may finish the Members at your Leisure.

* Ordonnance is the placing regularly the Figures, in respect of the whole Composure; or the particular Disposition of Figures, as to the different Groups, Masses, Contrasts, Decorum, Aspect and Situation.