How does An Essay on Criticism explain the importance of nature in art?

In An Essay on Criticism, Alexander Pope posits that "Nature" serves as the fundamental source of good taste and the ultimate standard for artistic creation. He argues that critics and poets should look to the rules established by classical writers, which he views as reflections of this natural order.1

For Pope, art achieves its highest form when it effectively mirrors nature. This principle extends to the technical execution of poetry, where he emphasizes the importance of prosody—specifically the use of onomatopoeia—to ensure that the sound and meter of a verse act as an "Echo to the sense". By aligning the movement of the language with the actions or subjects being described, the poet allows the art to resonate with the natural reality it depicts. Ultimately, the work serves as a Neoclassical guide, encouraging artists to harmonize their creative efforts with these enduring, universal principles.21