§55X. THE WHOLE WALL NOT TO BE COLOURED. 109 



It is not sufficient that a particular ground should be arbi- 

 trarily selected ; it must be adapted to the position it is to 

 hold, to the general ornamentation, and to the character of 

 the surrounding objects. And though black may be generally 

 looked upon as a good ground for colours, it is seldom suited 

 to walls or ceilings. It may be used for some draperies, 

 dresses, and other objects, or even occasionally for columns 

 and furniture ; while, in glass, a black ground is rarely 

 admissible. 



White is a very useful ground for other colours, as it 

 heightens a room, and gives more light than any other ; but 

 it is often cold and harsh when covering a large space ; and, 

 beautiful as it is in the ceiling of the library of the Vatican, 

 it is there also open to that objection. The same crudity of 

 effect may be observed in that of the Koman Court at the 

 Crystal Palace of Sydenham ; while the colours of the ceilings 

 in the Greek court, and in the Alhambra Court of Lions, 

 are admirable specimens of harmony of colour. 



X. A whole wall, ceiling, or other space, should not be 

 entirely covered over with rich ornament ; and so also in a 

 coloured piece of drapery, or any ornamental work, it is better 

 to have some portion of it much less rich, and of less com- 

 plicated pattern, than the rest ; and, in some cases, to have 

 only a border round a simple ground destitute of any pattern, 

 as it is apt to fatigue the eye when overloaded with equal rich- 

 ness of detail throughout. This is still more important in a 

 coloured building, where, if the whole walls, columns, and other 

 parts, are covered with elaborate and coloured patterns, the 

 eye feels a want of repose ; and the same when a building is 

 covered entirely with sculptured ornament without colour. 

 The richly carved part not only requires an unsculptured 

 portion in order that it shall not fatigue the eye, but is im- 

 proved and set off by the contrast ; and contrast is as necessary 

 for effect in form, quantity of detail, and the position of lines, 



