304 On the. Principles of Compojllion, &c. 



fuffer ; let us therefore hufband that time, the continuance 

 of which is fo uncertain, and whofe lofs is irrecoverable. 



Be wife to-day ; 'tis madnefs to defer ; 



Next day the fatal precedent will plead : 



Thus on, till wifdora is puffi'd out of life. Young . 



In arranging the materials of our picture, all that can be 

 recommended is, to avoid regular forms in the mafs of ob- 

 jects ; as angular, circular, or any geometrical figure. That 

 regularity which conftitutes a beauty in buildings, would 

 become a deformity in landfcape. Should a long line of 

 horizon, or any other objects, occur in a view, to diverfify 

 it, fome part ihould be left obfeurc, if it does not admit of 

 breaking; and in compoiing the clouds, and light and (hade, 

 we have an opportunity of helping the effect by giving them 

 a llight tendency to a contrary direction : few things appear 

 fo unpleafant, as tirefome long horizontal lines following 

 each other. But, however delirable variety may be, we 

 ihould be careful to guard asrainit running into an affected 

 contrail; a worfe evil of the two. We mull be cautious 

 that our compofition docs not crowd too much into one part 

 of the picture; but, bv way of fopportiug a fort of balance, 

 fome one mafs, as a counterpoife, Ihould appear in another 

 part: this is not confined to the objects merely, but equally 

 extends to cbiaro-fcu.ro and colour, to prevent a fpottinefs. 

 It is a fault not uncommon to have too many parts in the 

 compofition : this ihould be avoided in elevated fcenes, whofe 

 parts ihould be liniple and little decorated : much (miming 

 would deflroy the fimple dignity fuch fubjects require. The 

 back-grounds to fome of Sir Joflma's pictures are in the firft 

 ltyle of landfcape painting. 



It will be our duty to divert ouxfelves of prejudice as much 

 as poflible in viewing works of art ; if we become partial to 

 one mailer, we lofe the benefit we ought to derive from 

 them all : and let us by no means adopt the conduct of thofe 

 who view old pictures to find out their excellencies, and 

 modern ones their defects. Fainting, as before obierved, is 

 not, what many ignorafttly fuppofe, the art of copying Nature 

 merely : op, no :. it requires the aid of realon,. and ftrong 



reafon, 



