LECT. IV.j OS PERSPECTIVE. 125
tances; but, by a variety of accidents, 'anting from
the vivacity of the light, or from the rarity, or the
denfity, of the circum-ambient air, they vary conft-
fiderably from their prefcribed effects. Nor indeed
is perfpe&ive itfelf infallible here ; for, if we fup-
pofe ourfelves to have taken the mod accurate view
(of a diftant town for inftance) while the fun has
been obfcured by clouds, mould they be fuddenly
diftipated, and the fun mine full on that particular
fpot, it would fcarcely feem the fame place which we
had been defigning: or, perhaps fome gilded wea-
thercock, juft moved by a little fhift of wind, may
gleam irregularity into the keeping of the piece :
or fome white object may fo far furpafs its neigh-
bours, as to be extra-diftinouithed amon^ them. I
have often noticed houfes at a diftance, perhaps,
barely fufficient to afcertain them, or their forms,
when fuddenly, by the parting of clouds, the fun-
beams have been reflected with great fplendor, even
from windows which before were imperceptible.
This often happens in the evening, to houfes built
on hills, and to other objects which are highly ele-
vated : in fact, the article of light is among thofe
leaft fubjeft to rules, and while it is undoubtedly an
indifpeiilible ingredient, it is perhaps the moft de-
ceptive of any in a compofition.
Is this an advantage, or a difadvantage>? An,
advantage, very certainly, to thofe who know how
to improve it; for, as the variety of accidents which
fudden tranfitions of light occafion, is endlefs, it f ur-
jufhes
tances; but, by a variety of accidents, 'anting from
the vivacity of the light, or from the rarity, or the
denfity, of the circum-ambient air, they vary conft-
fiderably from their prefcribed effects. Nor indeed
is perfpe&ive itfelf infallible here ; for, if we fup-
pofe ourfelves to have taken the mod accurate view
(of a diftant town for inftance) while the fun has
been obfcured by clouds, mould they be fuddenly
diftipated, and the fun mine full on that particular
fpot, it would fcarcely feem the fame place which we
had been defigning: or, perhaps fome gilded wea-
thercock, juft moved by a little fhift of wind, may
gleam irregularity into the keeping of the piece :
or fome white object may fo far furpafs its neigh-
bours, as to be extra-diftinouithed amon^ them. I
have often noticed houfes at a diftance, perhaps,
barely fufficient to afcertain them, or their forms,
when fuddenly, by the parting of clouds, the fun-
beams have been reflected with great fplendor, even
from windows which before were imperceptible.
This often happens in the evening, to houfes built
on hills, and to other objects which are highly ele-
vated : in fact, the article of light is among thofe
leaft fubjeft to rules, and while it is undoubtedly an
indifpeiilible ingredient, it is perhaps the moft de-
ceptive of any in a compofition.
Is this an advantage, or a difadvantage>? An,
advantage, very certainly, to thofe who know how
to improve it; for, as the variety of accidents which
fudden tranfitions of light occafion, is endlefs, it f ur-
jufhes