THE rOEEST. 301 



Bor describe the different shades in the verdure 

 of the forest. He is to exhibit in his portraits 

 of Nature such prominent, and striking features, 

 as recall the original to every mind ; and must 

 neglect the minuter discriminations (which one 

 may have remarked, and another have neglected) 

 for those characteristics, which are alike obvious 

 to attention and carelessness.' * 



The object of a landscape painter should surely be to 

 represent Nature exactly as she appears from the point of 

 view of the spectator. As much, therefore, as the eye 

 can clearly discern in the foreground of a scene should 

 be as clearly — though, of course, in miniature — repre- 

 sented on the canvas. To attempt such exact representa- 

 tion of objects clearly discerned by the spectator we 

 conceive to be in no sense puerile or undignified, but as 

 the highest and noblest aim of art. The natural limitation 

 of our vision no doubt greatly stimulates the imagination. 

 "When we are looking, for instance, upon forest scenery, 

 we can clearly discern not the outlines only, but the 

 details of immediately contiguous objects. Much, how- 

 ever, of what lies beyond the foreground is enveloped in 

 a sort of mystery, until we have carefully explored all the 

 nooks and crannies of the ground. Nature dehghts in 

 these little mysteries, and they greatly add to our impres- 



* Pr. of Ahyssin. p. G8. 



