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'• took,"' and, as they generally hold views diametrically opposed to those 

 of the artist on such matters, a pleasing result is only obtained after much 

 tribulation. This is, however, most to be remarked in persons of middle 

 lite and onwards, as children of both sexes and those in the hey-day of 

 youth generally pose themselves in very pleasing attitudes, quite befitting 

 their country life and occupation. 



Whilst it should be your aim to place your figures in such a manner as 

 shall present agreeable lines in your composition, be very careful you 

 avoid the other extreme in giving them a species of classic pose more 

 suggestive of .Junos or Dianas than the simple folk of a country village, 

 remembering you had better a thousand times have angular and even 

 somewhat ugly forms in your pictures than that such a result should 

 obtain. 



These remarks apply to rustic scenes and general landscape views, and, 

 inasmuch as a West-end fop would be " out of keeping " in proximity to 

 thatched roofs and whitewashed walls, so would a ploughboy in a like 

 degree be out of place in a London-drawing room, however much you 

 might wish to emphasise contrast. Always see, then, that your figures 

 are suited to the situation you intend them to occupy, and endeavour to 

 place them in as natural and easy a posture as possible. 



Now, as to where they should be introduced in your compositions. 

 This will entirely depend on the subject you select, and what you deter- 

 mine shall be your strong point. If you decide that an object m the 

 landscape shall first arrest attention, the figures will then have to hold a 

 secondary position ; but, if there is nothing of any particular interest in 

 your view, let the figures be made of more importance. They will 

 generally be found useful as a " balance" in the composition, or as a 

 " contrast," the irregularity of their outlines being opposed to the lines 

 and angles of buildings, as also their apparel, to the darker tones of 

 vegetation, or vice versa. 



Another point you should consider is, whether you intend to make a 

 " figure subject " or a " landscape with figures," as on this depends the 

 size of the figures, or the space they should occupy. Avoid having them 

 of such a size as would leave any doubt in the mind of the observer which 

 was the more important part of the picture, the figures or the landscape. 

 If the former, the prospect beyond should be broad and effective in its 

 masses; if the latter, then the figures should be just sufficient to serve as 

 a scale, and give additional interest to the whole. 



In "grouping" care should be taken that no two groups are of the 

 same size, nor placed in opposite positions. Always endeavour to have 

 one group larger than any others, both as regards number and the space 

 it occupies. Generally, groups should diminish in the space they occupy 

 as they recede from the eye. It the light admits, try and connect them 

 by means of the shadows they cast ; sometimes a dog will be found very 

 useful to this end. In placing your models avoid formality, aiming 

 rather at irregularity in their outlines. You do not want a regiment of 

 soldiers ; hence never arrange them in line, have some portion of the 

 group higher at one point or another, not forgetting that nets or farming 

 implements carried on the shoulder will materially assist you in this 



