Artificial

I came across an interesting reference while reading Shakespeare's Use of the Arts of Language by Sister Miriam Joseph, C.S.C. (Paul Dry Books, written in 1947, reprinted in 2005), about the word "artificial." He quotes George Puttenham's Art of English Poesie (1589). I thought it was interesting to see the word artificial used as a positive thing - something that we don't have by nature, but study and learn...

Then as there was no art in the world til by experience found out: so if Poesie be now an Art, and of al antiquitie hath bene among the Greeks and Latines, and yet were none, untill by studious persons fashioned and reduced into a method of rules and precepts, then no doubt may there be the like with us...

Man also in all his actions that be not altogether naturall, but are gotten by study and discipline or exercise, as to daunce by measures, to sing by note, to play on the lute, and such like, it is a praise to be said an artificiall dauncer, singer, and player on instruments, because they be not exactly knowne or done, but by rules and precepts or teaching of schoolemasters. (as quoted on pg. 5 of Shakespeare's Use of the Arts of Language)