On the Effects of Light and Air, 245 



The robes and full colors generally had become dull and heavy ; 



this has gradually gone off, and left a brilliancy of color and beauty 



of effect hardly to be excelled. The gold also, as you hinted, 

 has become more clear and bright. 



The flesh parts of the figures, which had become pallid, almost 

 to white, have recovered the high tint and deep shadow, and the 

 strong anatomical effect of Raphael. 



A renewed freshness now reigns over the whole, and the clear- 

 ing up of the li^ht in many of the landscape parts is most extra- 

 ordinary, giving a depth and breadth the cartoons themselves do 

 not now convey, particularly in the Keys to St. Peter, St. Paul at 

 Athens, and the Death of Ananias; where extensive landscape, 

 ranges of buildings, and foliage have sprung up, like magic, on 

 parts quite obscured when up in London eight months back, much 



erns at Hamp- 



means 



ton, and painted over, and known only through the 

 these Leo Tapestries. 



I should have much pleasure in giving you any further infor- 

 mation on the subject I am capable of, or in showing the works to 

 any persons taking an interest in them. ' 



I am, &.C. Wm 



My 



Coventry, April 17, 1839. 



Raphael Tapestries had undergone the last seventh months, use 

 as yon think proper. I regret not being able to give you a scien- 

 tific description from the first, and the progress ; and the absence 

 of a gentleman acquainted with the chemical effects of light and 

 air, to have noted the changes, is much to be regretted both for 

 science and art- The works themselves being unique, and of 

 above three centuries, so placed for so many years in continued 

 damp to effect such mischief to the colors, are circumstances 

 never to occur again. 



Some colors entirely changedj others in confusion and appa- 

 rently goncj yet by the mere efiects of light and air, slowly and 

 quietly resume the chief of their original tints ! Flesh reappears, 

 hair on the head starts up; the grand muscular effect and unique 

 power of expression, only found in Raphael and Michael Angelo, 

 are finely developed where a few months back appeared a plain 



surface! Here are the works, and the facts may be noio ascer- 

 tained. 



t:- 



