298 Illuftralhn of the Principles of Compoftkn 



cameras: Canaletti's buildings arc boldly handled, with a fine 

 tone of colour. To enumerate the excellencies found in the 

 different mailers were endlefsj thefe hints may fcrve to direct 

 our inquiry. 



It would be unpardonable to pafs over the merits of our 

 countrymen Gainfborough and Barrett (not to mention 

 many juftly celebrated living artills, whofe works will ever 

 rank among thofe of the firft mafters). The former, for 

 Jightnefs of handling, elegant ruRicity of figures, breadth of 

 ebiaro-fcuro, and fweet filvery tone of colour, is highly worthy 

 of attention ; while the latter, for the character of a tree and 

 the true tone of gray diftance, is highly elbmable. The three 

 great names of Wilfon, Gainfborough, and Barrett, form a 

 fchool for the ftudent, while their labours reflect the higheft 

 honour on our nation. 



Some author calls painting a Jtxtb fenfe; it certainly adds 

 a delight to the exiftence of the artitt, by enabling him to 

 enjoy many beauties unnoticed by the common eye. 



-For him the Spring 



DifttUs her dews, and from the fiiken gem 

 Its lucid leaves unfolds •. for him the hand 

 Of Autumn tinges every fertile branch 

 With blooming gold. AkEtfSIDft; 



Thofe beauties, as they efcape common obfervation, fo it 

 will become our bounden duty not to fuff'er them to pafs 

 without making fuch memorandums as may fecure them for 

 future Life : unlefs we do this, and refort frequently to Nature 

 for our materials, we (hall fall into a habit of repeating our- 

 felves, and our pictures will appear as if made up from the 

 fame fmall ilock of ideas. It becomes an indifpenfable duty 

 with us to view everything with an eye to the art ; from 

 the palace to the cottage, from the craggy rock to the humble 

 bank of earth : the various kinds of trees, with each fpeeics 

 o! fhrub, muff not pafs unnoticed. To the artift every thing 

 i- of ufe ; beautiful or terrilic, awfully vail, or elegantly little ; 

 all, all mult be treafured up for future ufe : but full in our 

 refearch, not the individual, but the fpeeie's, mult form the 

 pbjeclt of our inquiry. 



The 



