Theory and Practice 



round; but if sloped to the shaded line, less of the bank 

 will be reflected in the water, and the quantity of sky 

 seen in the water will be from b to d ; and as the bril- 

 liancy of still water depends on the sky reflected on 

 its surface, the quantity of water will be apparently 

 increased. 



As properly belonging to this chapter may be men- 

 tioned a curious observation which occurred in the view 

 of the Thames from Purley. In the morning [see Plate 

 vii], when the sun was in the east, the landscape ap- 

 peared to consist of wood, water, and distant country, 

 with few artificial accompaniments ; but in the evening, 

 when the sun was in the west, objects presented them- 

 selves which were in the morning scarcely visible. In the 

 first instance the wood was in a solemn repose of shade ; 

 the water, reflecting a clear sky, was so brilliantly illum- 

 inated that I could trace the whole course of the river; 

 the dark trees were strongly contrasted by the vivid 

 green of the meadows, and the outline of distant hills 

 was distinctly marked by the brightness of the atmo- 

 sphere. I could scarcely distinguish any other objects; 

 but these formed a pleasing landscape, from the breadth 

 or contrast of light and shade. 



In the evening [Plate vii] the scene was changed; 

 dark clouds reflected in the water rendered it almost 

 invisible, the opposite hanging wood presented one 

 glare of rich foliage, not so beautiful in the painter's 

 eye as when the top of each tree was relieved by small 

 catching lights: but the most prominent features were 

 the buildings, the boat, the path, the pales, and even 

 the distant town of Reading, now strongly gilded by the 

 opposite sun. [Plate vii.] 



On comparing this effect with others which I have 



