§55 XIX. INDIAN AND PERSIAN PATTERNS. 157 



best method of employing green with other colours. This is 

 done most successfully by placing the design on a ground of a 

 rich, or at least of a decided colour. In PI. xiii., " a Hindoo 

 prayer-carpet," green is combined with the reds by means of 

 the dominant gold ground, which also accords both with the 

 green and the reds. For it is a mistake to suppose that the 

 green and red are here the principal colours ; and to deprive 

 the design of the gold ground would at once destroy the 

 whole composition. The introduction of different lines of 

 red has a good effect. 



In PI. xv., " an Indian embroidered satin apron," the green 

 and two reds, blue, white, yellow, and orange, on a black 

 ground, have an agreeable effect : and here it is worthy of re- 

 mark that the pattern composed of those colours looks well on 

 the black ground, when it would have been far from pleasing 

 without the black, or with a white or other light, ground. It 

 is far more agreeable than PI. xvi., where one of the blues is 

 of an undecided slate hue in contact with red, and the general 

 tone is harsh, while the black is not so suitable a ground 

 for this as for the preceding pattern. In PI. xvn. — " from the 

 pattern-book of a Persian designer" — the designs offend by 

 having too much green and red, and even purple with green ; 

 and they are imperfect in colour, whether taken singly, or in 

 their general aspect when combined. 



In PI. XVIII. the green and red of the flowers on a nankin 

 ground have not a harmonious effect ; and the same may be 

 said of those in the upper part of PI. xix. which are deficient 

 in harmony and deviate from the principle of flatness ; and 

 better studies for the decoration of textile fabrics may be 

 obtained from the lower part of this PI. xix. In PI. xxii. 

 are common brocaded silks, such as are worn in the East, and 

 though the combination of green, pink-red, and purple is 

 disagreeable and discordant, they offer curious examples of 

 the manner in which gold reconciles the eye to these colours, 



