4 LANDSCAPE-GARDENING 



The power of the landscape painter as applied to 

 pictures formed by real objects, to the creation of 

 landscapes, to the study, appreciation, and develop- 

 ment of beautiful scenery is the distinguishing feature 

 of the art now under consideration. What power 

 has the landscape painter ? He depicts scenery 

 upon canvas. One looks at his productions and 

 realizes the warmth of spring sunshine in a valley, 

 the majesty of a mountain, the force of the ocean, 

 the beauty of the pink glow of evening on the snow, 

 the charm of woods, running streams, water margins, 

 and open glades. One almost feels the wind, the 

 warmth of a summer evening, the cool atmosphere 

 of the morning, the dampness of a rainy day, or the 

 cold but delightful beauty of winter. How does the 

 painter get this power ? He learns how to draw and 

 how to use pencils, charcoal, crayons, water-colors, 

 oils, and pigments in the schools, but his chief in- 

 spiration, the source of his real power, comes from the 

 out-of-doors. He looks abroad over the land, his 

 range of vision stretching away on nearly horizontal 

 lines to distant points. His canvas rests upon the 

 easel in a nearly vertical position so that he can 

 glance easily from the object he is depicting to the 

 representation of that object (Fig. i). 



