glades, half seen across the stems of old 

 stag-headed oaks and twisted beeches ; 

 lias remarked the irregular tracks of wheels, 

 and the foot-paths of men and animals, 

 how they seem to have been seeking and 

 forcing their way, in every direction — 

 must have felt how differently the stimulus 

 of curiosity is excited in such scenes, and 

 how much likewise the varied effects of 

 light and shadow are promoted, by the 

 variety and intricacy of the objects. 



If it be true that a certain irritation or 

 stimulus is necessary to the picturesque, 

 it is equally so that a soft and pleasing re- 

 pose is the effect, and the characteristic of 

 the beautiful ; and what in my mind 

 places this position in a very favourable 

 light is, that the peculiar excellence of the 

 painter who most studied the beautiful in 

 landscape, is characterised by il riposo di 

 Claudio; and when the mind of man is in 

 the delightful state of repose, of which 

 Claude's pictures are the image ; when he 

 feels that mild and equal sunshine of the 

 soul which warms and cheers, but neither 



