ON MICROSCOPICAL DRAWING AND PAINTING. 163 



the arrangement of optical apparatus, judgment, 

 and study in the methods of procedure. A drawing 

 may be true in its scientific aspect, and possess 

 artistic features of decided interest the one may 

 incorporate the other. The illustrations of Mr. 

 G-osse's books are instances of this peculiar quality. 

 " Still Life " has arrested the attention of artists 

 of all time, from Missal Illuminators to Royal 

 Academicians ; such results have no scientific im- 

 port, but like all art products, awaken gratification 

 in appreciating the power applied in producing 

 their essence, and without degrading the legitimate 

 functions of the microscope, it is possible to extract 

 from its revelations, models of exceptional charm 

 and excellence, associated, moreover, with scientific 

 value. Although the bias of an expert microscopist 

 and practised artist may not often touch the same 

 mind, it is certain that when a keen perception is 

 directed to complications of beauty, with rare con- 

 ditions of light and effulgence of colour, the in- 

 strument becomes the very touchstone of artistic 

 feeling, and beyond mere beauty (which, in visible 

 nature, is inexhaustible) there are revelations of 

 structural form, quaint elegancies, mysterious 

 changes of tissues, and embryological developments, 

 under radiances, hidden, not only from ordinary 

 familiarity, but even from the cognisance of many 

 w4io have not had the opportunity of exhausting 

 the resources of a fine instrument, with all its 

 accessories. It may be urged that few have the 

 ability to approach art of this description, but the 

 power of drawing quickly develops itself, especially 

 when stimulated by special and eager interest, con- 

 centrated on special objects ; no one led by inelina- 



