L 144 ] 



guifh churches and villages, rill we come nearei" 

 itill, where particular houfes, men, and cattle, 

 may be perceived, and fo on, till we fee diftindt- 

 iy every vifible objed abput us, 



A theory of this fort is abiblutely necefîary in 

 every painter who would imitate nature in al- 

 mofl: any refpeft. To run it over again ; from 

 a near view to a diftant place, let your firft or 

 neareft objeds have pure and bright colours, ac- 

 cording as the nature of the fubjeds may require. 

 Thefe fliould be fmifhed with great lights and 

 Urong ihadows : thofe at a little diftance fhould 

 be fomething lefs bright in their ground-colours, 

 not fo high in their lights, or fo deep in their 

 ihadows ; and as they are farther diftant, they 

 fliould diminiOi more in the purity of colour, 

 as well as in light and fhadow, till they have 

 neither light, foadow, colour, or diftind form ; 

 for all is confufed, and mixed at very great dif- 

 tances. As one gees backwards in a pidure, 

 much finifiîing is to be fpared -, the windows of 

 a houfe are not fuppofed to be vifible at fome 

 miles diftance, though the houfe, in its general 

 form, may be feen. As to little ornairients in 



drefs:^ 



