84 Analffsis of Books, t^vi^^, 



them viery obliquely, and sees them o^ a form most clecidedly 



elliptic. 



'^" The reason why the eyes of a portrait se^^tii td follow us 



will be hereafter considered, but cannot be rightly explained, 



\lllitil Jthe ^fc'ircunistances on Which apparent direction in the front 



view depends, are fully understood. 



'** If we examine with attention the eyes of a persort opj^^osite 

 to us, looking horizontally within about twenty degrees on 

 either side of us, we find that the most perceptible variation in the 

 appaiance of his eyes, in consequence of their lateral motion, 

 IS an increase and decrease of the white parts at the angles of 

 etich eye, dependent on their being turned to or from the nose. 



" In the central position of an eye, the two portions of white 

 are nearly equal. By this equahty, we are able to decide that 

 a person is looking neither to his right nor to his left, but 

 straight forward in tile direction of his nose, as index of the 

 general position of his face. 



" If, on tl>e contrary, he turn his eyes to one side, we are im*. 

 mediately made sensible of the change by a diminution of the 

 white of the eye on that side to which they turn ; and by this 

 test alone we are able to estimate in what degree they deviate 

 indirection from the face to which they belong. 



*^ But their direction with reference to ourselves is perfectly 

 distinct from the former ; and in judging of this, it seems pro- 

 bable that, even in viewing real eyes, we are not guided by 

 the eyes alone, but are unconsciously aided by the concurrent 

 position of the entire face ; for in a portrait, the effect of this 

 further condition admits of being proved by a distinct and 

 decisive experiment. ^ • 



" If a pair of eyes be drawn with correctness, looking at the 

 spectator, at such moderate deviation from the general position 

 of the face as is Usual in the best portraits, unless some touch 

 be added to suggest the turn of face, the direction of the eyes 

 seems vague, and so undetermined, that their direction will 

 not appear the same to all persons ; and to the same person 

 they may be made appear directed either to him or from him 

 by the addition of other features strongly marking that essen- 

 tial circumstance — the position of the face.'' 



Dr. Wollaston then proceeds to explain the illustrati\^e 

 engravings already mentioned, which completely estabhsh his 

 positions, and gives the subjoined remarks on a collateral sub- 

 ject at the conclusion of the paper. 



" With this previous knowledge of the influence which the 

 general perspective of the face in a portrait has upon the apparent 

 direction of the eyes, we shall be prepared to examine why, if 

 they look at the spectator when he stands in front of the picture, 

 they follow, and appear to look at him in every other direction. 



