We expect an embalmed heart, and we find only clothes.
There is doubtless as high art displayed in painting a portrait in words, as there is in painting one in colours.

To do either well requires the seeing eye and the skilful pen or brush.

A common artist sees only the features of a face, and copies them; but the great artist sees the living soul shining through the features, and places it on the canvas.

Johnson was once asked to assist the chaplain of a deceased bishop in writing a memoir of his lordship; but when he proceeded to inquire for information, the chaplain could scarcely tell him anything.
Hence Johnson was led to observe that "few people who have lived with a man know what to remark about him." In the case of Johnson's own life, it was the seeing eye of Boswell that enabled him to note and treasure up those minute details of habit and conversation in which so much of the interest of biography consists.
Boswell, because of his simple love and admiration of his hero, succeeded where probably greater men would have failed.

He descended to apparently insignificant, but yet most characteristic, particulars.