ioo NOTES. 



effect of colours as was recommended for the acquifition of 

 light and fhade, by adding colours to the darkened paper; 

 but as thofe are not always at hand, it may be fufficient, if 

 the picture, which you think worthy of imitating, be con- 

 fidered in this light, to afcertain the quantity of warm and the 

 quantity of cold colours. 



The predominant colours of the pidure ought to be of a 

 warm mellow kind, red or yellow, and no more cold colour 

 fhould be introduced but what will be jufl enough to ferve 

 as a ground or foil to fet off and give value to the mellow 

 Colours, and never itfelf be principal; for this purpofe a 

 quarter of the picture will be fufficient ; thofe cold colours, 

 whether blue, grey, or green, are to be difperfed about the 

 ground or furrounding parts of the picture, wherever it has 

 the appearance of wanting fuch a foil, but fparingly employed 

 in the mafles of light. 



I am confident an habitual examination of the works of 

 thofe Painters, who have excelled in harmony, will, by de- 

 grees, give a correctnefs of eye that will revolt at difcordant 

 colours as a mufician's ear revolts at difcordant founds. 



R. 



NOTE XLII. VERSE 517. 

 By mellowing Jkill thy ground at difiance caft 

 Free as the air, and tranjient as its blaft. 

 By a ftory told of Rubens, we have his authority for afTert- 

 ing that to the effect of the picture, the back-ground is of the 

 greateft confequence. 



Rubens, on his being defired to take under his instruction 

 a young painter, the perfon who recommended him, in order 

 to induce Rubens the more readily to take him, faid, that he 

 was already fomewhat advanced in the art, and that he would 

 be of immediate affiftance in his back-grounds. Rubens 



fmiled 



