268 



Essays on the Picturesque by Mr. Price in 1791, and " The 

 Landscape" by Mr, Payne Knight, in the same year, completed 

 tl.e expulsion of the Brunonian system of design. 



Gilpin's Tours are full of excellent and many original obser- 

 vations ; he has little of hypothesis or theory, he was a judici- 

 ous observer of Picturesque beauties, and selecting in his des- 

 criptions such as are successful in pleasing, whether natural or 

 acquired, he very rationally draws the conclusion that such are 

 the best (o imitate. To do this, Taste in the imitator is (he 

 chief requisite, for he ver}' justly remarks that the comparative 

 virtue of taste and expense is remarkable ; the former with very 

 little of the latter will always produce something pleasing, wliile 

 the utmost efforts of the latter unaided by the former are 

 ineflcctiial. All his observations are illustrated by examples, 

 and iiulependant of the native English scenery which he draws 

 from for the purpose, he describes the following demesnes for a 

 similar purpose, Blenheim, Burleigh, Castlehill, Enville, Fonthill, 

 Ilafod, Hagle}', ilam, Kiddleston, Leasowes, ^'ount Edgecumbe 

 Nuiicham, Isorbury, Persfield, Roch Abbey, Shuckborow, 

 Strawberry Hill, Studley, Trentham, Twickenham, and Wilton. 

 IJis writings are in a most agreeable style and were generally 

 read. If it is too much to say that they formed the national 

 taste, they served most eftectually to correct it. 



The Essays of Price, advocate the study of the principles of 

 Painting by those who wish to excel in Landsf-ape Gardening 

 "not to the exclusion of Nature, but as an assistant in (he stu- 

 dy ofher works." What (hose principles are as relates to the 

 creation of a beautiful Landscape he then proceeds to consider, 

 and which he concludes may be effected in two modes, (he 

 characteristics of one are boldness, abruptness, depth and sud- 

 den contrasts of shade, &c. such as Salvator Rosa might delight 

 to represent ; the other by gentle undulations, with soft blend- 

 ingsof light and shade such as Claudo usually represend in 

 his Landscapes. 



