184 



LANDSCAPE GARDENING. 



It is under such circumstances, that a 

 knowledge of landscape-painting is peculiarly 

 applicable. Such knowledge would teach 

 the necessity of studying the character of the 

 surrounding country, and the impropriety of 

 destroying the rich embowered scenery of 

 Hobbima, in the vain hope of obtaining the 

 graduated and aerial distance of Claude. 



Cheerfulness, as connected with scenery, 

 being generally the object proposed in this 

 indiscriminate clearing, it may not be un- 

 instructive to examine into the component 

 parts, if we may so speak, of this quality. It 

 has been already stated, that blue distance, 

 from its susceptibility of change under the 

 variation of sun and cloud, and of the differ- 

 ent periods of the day, &c, offers a perpetual 

 subject of investigation to the eye, and hence 

 constitutes one main source of cheerfulness 

 in scenery.* 



* Mr. Repton appears to be insensible to this cause of 

 cheerfulness, when he says, " But as distant prospects de- 

 " pend so much on the state of the atmosphere, I have 

 " frequently asserted, that the views from a house — and 

 " particularly those from the drawing-room — ought rather 

 " to consist of objects which evidently belong to the place." 

 And again, " Views of distant mountains, which may be 

 " seen as well from the high road, are not features that 

 " justify extensive lawn over a flat surface." 



