164 THE BOOK OF THE LANTERN. 



tion of a little more paint, which need not be applied with 

 a brush, but can be simply dabbed on with the finger. 

 Some very good effects are often possible by this second 

 painting, especially when the sky is. deepened, in the 

 manner described, at its upper part or zenith ; such a 

 deepening, it will be readily seen, being in strict accordance 

 with the sky of nature. 



A blue sky with white clouds formed by the simple 

 operation of wiping out the colour, and leaving the clear 

 gelatine, is by far the easiest kind of sky to produce. It can 

 be modified in various ways by working other colours upon 

 it near the horizon, such as red or black, most sparingly 

 bestowed, or the zenith tint can be strengthened after the 

 slide has been dried. A most effective sky is that which I 

 may call the ordinary summer twilight sky, that is to say,^ 

 the deep blue at the zenith, fading gradually to a lighter tint 

 until it merges into bright yellow or orange at the horizon. 

 Such a sky is not difficult to produce. The best way will 

 be to commence at the horizon by dabbing, without the 

 use of the brush, Italian pink on to the glass ; a very little 

 colour being applied to the finger, with the addition of the 

 merest trace of medium, such as Canada balsam, in turpen- 

 tine. This must be diligently dabbed upon the glass until 

 its stickiness almost disappears, and its upper margin is 

 left without any hard lines. Then the finger should be 

 washed in the cup of turpentine which the painter should 

 always have at his elbow, and the blue may be applied to the 

 upper part of the picture in the ordinary way, and dabbed 

 down until it almost touches the yellow which has been 

 previously laid on. Once more wash and dry the dabbing 



