( 199 ) 



Unlefs diftances and fore-grounds are in fomc 

 degree, balanced, no compofition can be good. 

 Fore-grounds are ellential to landlcape : dijiimca 

 are not. 



A pi(5turefque view, as was obferved, may 

 confift chiefly, indeed intirely, of water : but 

 then, it is fuppofed, that, as there cannot 

 be a natural fore-ground, an artificial one 

 muft be obtained — a group of fhips — a few 

 boats with figures — a light-houfe — or fome- 

 thing, that will make a balance between near 

 and dijlant objedls. Such were the fea-pieces 

 of Vandervelt -, in which veflels of fome kind 

 were always introduced to make an artificial 

 fore-ground. We fometimes indeed meet with 

 amufing views, fuch as that celebrated one at 

 Hack-fall in Yorkfhire*, where there is a 

 gradual proportion among the different parts 

 of the retiring landfcape : we can fcarce dif- 

 tinguifh where the fore-grounds end, and 

 where the diftance begins : yet ftill there are 

 objects nearer the eye, which, in a degree 

 fet off the retiring parts, tho they may not 

 be decifively feparated from them, nor fully 



* See Obfervations on the lakes, and mountains of Cumber- 

 land, vol.11, page 191. 



O 4 pro- 



