TREES IN MODERN PAINTING 235 



All the same, Constable's rendering of ramifica- 

 tion is not always despicable ; his treatment 

 of foliage has indeed the quality that Hamerton 

 describes ; and he does not, like so many of 

 his predecessors, repeat the same kind of tree 

 over and over again. He may not insist on 

 the minuti^ of difference ; but we do feel to 

 be amongst trees which, if we looked closely at 

 them, would prove to be oak, elm, lime, beech 

 and other kinds. More than this was not 

 necessary for his main purpose, which was at 

 least delightful and wholesome ; and was com- 

 patible with not a little beauty in the means 

 of expression. It is not within our scope 

 to attempt an appreciation of Constable's art 

 as a whole. It is enough if a hint has been 

 given as to the nature of his enjoyment of the 

 woodland, and the means adopted by him to 

 quicken the like enjoyment in others. 



One further point, however, should be men- 

 tioned. Landscape painters before Constable 

 had almost invariably painted with the sun 

 behind them. Constable delighted to paint 

 with the sun before him, though high overhead. 

 Thus he saw the trees as great dark masses, 

 with sparkles of light dancing here and there 



