47 
shade; and if gently lightened towards the extremity, so as to form the 
reflected tint on the dark side, it will at once give roundness to the whole. 
By this management, that breadth of light and shade may be accom¬ 
plished, which, whether the group be highly finished, or not, cannot fail of 
having a good effect. 
It being recommended to the student, to employ only three colours at 
first, to form a group or composition with, as exemplified in these blots, it is 
requisite here to observe, that the introduction of more is not a matter of 
choice, but of necessity, arising from the nature of the subject; for although a 
white, a yellow, or a red flower, &c. may be chosen for a principal colour, yet it 
seldom happens but that there is a mixture of other tints in them also; for 
instance, yellow in the seeds, or red in the leaves, as in the one now chosen. 
But when that is the case, it is not necessary that there should be the prismatic 
proportion of each in the group; it will be enough to give theii harmonizing 
and contrasting tints, in as small a degree dispersed throughout, as the quantity 
of the yellow, for instance, requires; and if a greater portion is employed, it 
would become an example of four, or as many colours as are introduced, which 
would render it more difficult, and not in that instance so true a delineation 
of nature. 
