MARCH. 115 



and those most of all which are broken into little inequali- 

 ties — so those lights and shadows which are scattered and 

 broken are infinitely more irritating than those which are 

 broad and continued. We have all remarked how broad 

 the lights and shadows are on a fine evening, in nature, or 

 in a picture of Claude. We have also remarked the ex- 

 treme difference between such lights and shadows, and those 

 meagre and frittered ones which prevail in nature, when the 

 sunbeams, refracted and dispersed in every direction, by a 

 number of white flickering clouds, create a perpetual shifting 

 glare, and keep the eye in a state of constant irritation. All 

 such accidental eff'ects arising from clouds, are highly proper 

 to be studied by all lovers of painting or of nature. With 

 regard to landscape it may be remarked, that in proportion 

 as objects are scattered and in patches, without coiuiection. 

 the lights and shadows will be so too. 



If, for instance, we suppose a continued sweep of hills, 

 either entirely wooded or entirely bear, and under the influ- 

 ence of a low, cloudless sun — whatever parts are exposed to 

 that sun, will have one broad light upon them ; whatever 

 are hid from it, one broad shade. If we again suppose this 

 wood to have been thinned in such a manner as to have left 

 masses, groups and single trees so disposed, as to present a 

 pleasing and connected whole, though with detached parts : 

 or if we suppose the bare hills to have been planted in the 

 same style — the variety of light and shadow will be greatly 

 increased, and the general breadth still be preserved. Nor 

 would that breadth be injured if an old ruin, a cottage, or 

 any building of a quiet tint, was discovered among the trees. 

 But if the wood were so thinned as to have a poor, scattered 

 and unconnected appearance, or the hills planted in clumps, 

 patches and detached trees — the lights and shadows would 

 have the same broken and disjointed effect as the objects 

 themselves. If to this were added any harsh contrast, 

 such as clumps of firs and white buildings, the irritation 

 would be greatly increased. In all these cases, the eye, 

 instead of reposing on one broad, connected whole, is stopt 

 and harrassed by little disunited, discordant parts. In all 



