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accidents in nature; of striking con- 

 trasts in form, colour, and light and 

 shadow: sun-beams bursting through a 

 small opening in a dark wood — a rainbow 

 against a stormy sky — effects of thunder 

 and lightning- torrents rolling down trees 

 torn up by the roots, and the dead bodies 

 of men and animals— are among the sub- 

 lime and picturesque circumstances exhi- 

 bited by his daring pencil. These sudden 

 gleams, these cataracts of light, these bold 

 oppositions of clouds and darkness which 

 he has so nobly introduced, would destroy 

 all the beauty and elegance of Claude: on 

 the other hand, the mild and equal sun- 

 shine of that charming painter, would 

 as ill accord with the twisted and singular 

 forms, and the bold and animated variety 

 of the landscapes of Rubens*. 



* The distinct characters and effects of light and sha*- 

 dow on the great face of nature, which have been imitated 

 by Rubens and by Olaude> may not unaptly be compared 

 to the no less distinct characters and effects of smiles oil 

 the human countenance: nothing is so captivating, 

 seems so much to accord with oar idea's of beauty, as the 



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