SCENEEY AEPEOTED BY 'i'HE WEATHEE. 327 



slieds liis perpendicular ray, all is illumination ; 

 there is no shadow to balance such a glare of 

 light, no contrast to oppose it. The judicious 

 artist, therefore, rarely represents his objects 

 under a vertical sun. And yet no species of 

 landscape bears it so well as the scenes of the 

 forest. The tuftings of trees, which of all objects 

 are the richest, from the little breaks of strong 

 light and shade upon them, the recesses formed 

 by the retiring boughs, the lighter foliage thus 

 hanging over the darker, may all have an effect 

 under a meridian sun. I speak chiefly, however, 

 of the internal scenes of the forest which bear 

 such total brightness, better than any other, as in 

 them there is generally a natural gloom to balance 

 it. The light, obstructed by close, intervening 

 trees, will rarely predominate. Hence the effect 

 is often fine. A strong sunshine striking a wood 

 through some fortunate chasm, and reposing on 

 the tuftings of a clump just removed from the 

 eye, and strengthened by the deep shadows of 

 the trees behind, appears to great advantage ; 

 especially if some noble tree, standing on the fore- 

 ground in deep shadow, flings athwart the sky its 



