023 OITPIn'R F0RI5ST SOENERY. 



dark branches, here and there illumined with a 

 splendid touch of light. 



In an open country, the most fortunate circum- 

 stance, that attends a meridian sun, is cloudy 

 weather, which occasions partial lights. Then 

 it is that the distant forest scene is spread with 

 lengthened gleams, while the other parts of the 

 landscape are in shadow. Nothing is more beau- 

 tiful in itpHf, noflv'iT-'- ^^'I'lRtTri''^'-' iiio: ^ '■ 

 ,u'i'C'n( pi'i;; 



tuftings of trees are particularly adapted to 

 catch these effects with advantage. There is a 

 richness in them from the strong opposition of 

 light and shade, which is wonderfully fine, and a 

 softness which is \erj favourable to the principle 

 of gradation. A distant forest, thus illumined, 

 wants only a foreground to make it highly pic- 

 turesque. 



As the sun descends, the effect of its illumina- 

 tion becomes stronger. It is a doubt, whether 

 the rising, or the setting sun is more picturesque. 

 The great beauty of both depends on the contrast 

 between splendour and obscurity. But this con- 

 trast is produced by these different incidents in 



