83 



a new ami lively interest to woodland 

 scenery, and would afford opportunities of 

 trying a variety of picturesque embellish- 

 ments. 



Some of the most eminent painters, not 

 only of the Dutch and Flemish, but like- 

 wise of the Italian school, were particularly 

 fond of scenes of this kind ; and our own 

 Gainsborough, of whom we have so much 

 reason to be proud, no less delighted in 

 painting them. The esteem of such artists 

 is very much in favour of the scenes them- 

 selves ; but the principle, on which they 

 give so much pleasure to those who have 

 learnt to observe effects in nature by means 

 of those which are expressed in painting, 

 has been often displayed in landscapes of 

 the highest style, and where the scenery is 

 far from rude ;* and I am glad to cite such 



* A very striking example of the effect of this principle 

 is displayed in a picture of tlic greatest of all landscape- 

 painters — Titian, ft waa in the Orleans collection, and 

 repitseiits the bath of Diana^ with the story of Acte&n. 

 The figures, ultich are either in, or close to the bath, 

 bear the satne kind of proportion to it, as a tree of 

 Kuystiul or Gainsbprough, does to the small pool over 



