ON THE COLOUR OF COUNTRY HOUSES. 



493 



same dull and insipid effect that colourless 

 features — (white hair, pale eye-brows, 

 lips, &c. &c.) do the face. A certain 

 sprightliness is therefore always bestowed 

 on a dwelling in a neutral tint, by paint- 

 ing the bolder projecting features of a dif- 

 ferent shade. The simplest practical rule 

 that we can suggest for effecting this, in the 

 most satisfactory and agreeable manner, is 

 the following : Chopse paint of some neutral 

 tint that is quite satisfactory, and let the 

 facings of the windows, cornices, &c. be 

 painted several shades darker, of the same 

 colour. The blinds may either be a still dark- 

 er shade than the facings, or else the darkest 

 green.* This variety of shades will give 

 a building a cheerful effect, when, if but one 

 of the shades were employed, there would 

 be a dullness and heaviness in the appear- 

 ance of its exterior. Any one who will fol- 

 low the principles we have suggested can- 

 not, at least, fail to avoid the gross blunders 

 in faste which most common house painters 

 and their employers have so long been in 

 the habit of committing in the practice of 

 painting country houses. 



UvEDALE Price justly remarked, that 

 many people have a sort of callus over 



* Thus, if the colour of the house be that of Portland stone, 

 (a fawn shade,) let the vvindo'w casings, cornices, etc. be 

 painted a light brown, the co|||nr of our common red free- 

 stone — and make the necessary shade by mixing the requisite 

 quantity of brown with the colour used in the body of the house. 

 There is an excellent specimen of this effect in the exterior of 

 the Delavan House, Albany. Very dark green is quite unob- 

 jectionable as a colour for the Venetian blinds, so much used in 

 our country — as it is quite unobtrusive. Bright green is offen- 

 sive to the eye, and vulgar ajid flashy in effect. 



their organs of sight, as others over those 

 of hearing ; and as the callous hearers feel 

 nothing in music but kettle drums and 

 trombones, so the callous seers can only 

 be moved by strong opposition of black and 

 white, or by fiery reds. There are, we may 

 add, many house painters who appear to be 

 equally benumbed to any delicate sensa- 

 tions in shades of colour. They judge of the 

 beauty of colours upon houses as they do in 

 the raw pigment, and we verily believe 

 Avould be more gratified to paint every- 

 thing chrome yellow, indigo blue, pure 

 white, Vermillion red, and the like, than 

 with the most fitting and delicate ming- 

 ling of shades to be found under the wide 

 canopy of heaven. Fortunately /asAioTZ, a 

 more powerful teacher of the multitude 

 than the press or the schools, is now setting 

 in the right direction. A few men of 

 taste and judgment, in city and country, 

 have set the example by casting off" all 

 connexion with harsh colours. What a few 

 leaders do at the first, from a nice sense 

 of harmony in colours, the many will do af- 

 terwards, when they see the superior beau- 

 ty of neutral tints, supported and enforced 

 by the example of those who build and 

 inhabit the most attractive and agreeable 

 houses, and we trust, at no very distant 

 time, one may have the pleasure of trav- 

 elling over our whole country, without 

 meeting with a single habitation of gla- 

 ring and offensive colour, but every where 

 see something of harmony and beauty. 



