128 Notices respedhig New Booh. 



effect is by no means the necessary consequence of the study of cor- 

 rect Perspective. It is probable that the objectors are prejudiced by the 

 unpleasing appearance of the illustrations in books of Perspective; but 

 they should consider them as illustrations only^ not as examples. In 

 these illustrations generally the horizon-line is made higher, and 

 the line of distance shorter, than the designer of them recommends 

 in his book ; but this is purposely done for the sake of making plain 

 the thing taught, i. e. making it more visible ; for if diagrams were 

 pictures, the parts described would be too minute and crowded, to be 

 intelligible. 



" Again ; diagrams must necessarily be described by actual lines. 

 There are no actual lines in nature, therefore the diagram is displeas- 

 ing : besides, (and this is an important ingredient of the difference 

 between a diagram and a picture,) visible lines have actual thickness 

 and intensity ; and the same must necessarily be extended to the 

 distance represented ; whereas that thickness and intensity ought to 

 vanish in the true perspective distance. The disgust therefore arises 

 from the diagram (the representative of the picture), not the picture 

 drawn according to its rules, 



" But some objectors say, ' If one draws what he sees, is not that 

 enough ; why study rules ? ' We answer, it is enough. It is all that 

 is wanted, if one draws what he sees : but the rules are given to 

 enable him to ' draw what he sees.' But he never saw a man stand- 

 ing on the same level with himself, and a mountain or a cottage, 

 or even another man brought by the distance below his elbow, or even 

 shoulder. How often do we see it in pictures ? He never saw the 

 great window in front of a cathedral directly, or nearly directly, 

 facing him, and the side of the structure at the same time : but many 

 a drawing exhibits them so. He never saw the head or the stern 

 of a boat and its side in profile at the same time. Half the number 

 of boats on paper (not to say canvass,) are so represented. 



" There is a large and voluminous work containing fifty and more 

 fine views of the antiquities and ruins of Rome and its environs. The 

 spectator will there see ranges of columns receding from the eye, 

 equally distant one from the other in the original, and equally di- 

 stant one from the other in the picture. The like absurdities run 

 through the work ; and whether the artist is so ignorant of Perspec- 

 tive as to think he has ' drawn what he has seen,' or has affected a 

 slovenly contempt of rules, the worth of his work is annihilated. 



" Even small objects put in the foreground of a sketch, insignifi' 

 cant of themselves, if out of perspective, destroy the levels, and put 

 the rest of the sketch, as it were, awry: and though some persons 

 have a natur,'\lly correct and accurate eye, and will describe * what 

 they see ' rightly without study or instruction, such instances are rare j 

 and it is worth while to those who draw for amusement, to gain the 

 little knowledge requisite for their purpose." 

 The following is the table of contents : 

 Part I. The Theory. General Principles and Definitions. 

 Part II. Practical Rules, and Application. 

 Chapter 1. Recapitulation of Definitions. 



Chapter 2. 



