174 



ON THE USE OF THE CAMERA LUCIDA. 



Compared 



xiith the ca' 

 mera lucida 



and ensure a more perfect execution of the work, that the 

 assistance of the camera obscura is desirable. 



For example — A gentleman who draws well, but not ex- 

 peditiously, gets iiito a picturesque country, and wishes to 

 draw views of the scenery he sees; he tries, and does not 

 succeed to his liking; he sets up his camera obscura, and 

 succeeds much better. Or, an artist is employed to travel 

 through a beautiful country, which he qan never see again; 

 he wishes to secure views of every fine scene that he sees, 

 and make the best use ot his time: in consequence he uses 

 the camera obscura, and secures a much greater number of 

 views, better executed, and done in much less time than 

 he would have produced them by drawing in the usual waj. 

 This is the test to which I wish to bring the camera lucida; 

 which, I contend, is in no respect superior, and in many 

 respects inferior, to the camera obscura. First, in respect to 

 portability, which may at first sight be thought its strongest 

 point. 

 At least equal- If our amateur or artist has determined to make his 

 ly poi table. di'awmgs of a large size, suppose each drawing on half a 

 sheet of imperial paper, which measures about 22 inches 

 by 15, his camera obscura will be contained in a box about 

 24 inches square, and 6 or 8 deep; but this will likewise 

 contain more paper than he ctin use in one day, and all his 

 clrawiag materials. As the camera Tucida is contained in a 

 box about 9 inches by 3, and one inch thick ; as this may 

 be put into the pocket ; they who should see both the in- 

 struments in the maker's shop, and be told^ that with the 

 small one tliey can do every thing that can be done with the 

 large one, would of course take it in preference; but mark 

 the consequence. 



Mr. Bate has told us, that " in copying a landscape the 

 ** instrument is to be fixed on a oteady table or board, on . 

 ** which a sheet of paper is to be stretched, and the prism 

 ** brought over the middle of it." Of course, the table, 

 or board, on which the paper is to be stretched, must be 

 equal in sire to the box of the camera obscura, which the 

 artist would use with the same paper, and therefore is an 

 incumbrance of equal magnitude. Consequently, although 

 it is undoubtedly true, that the camera lucida, considered 



by 



