The artists repository and drawing magazine: exhibiting the principles of the polite arts in their various branches (3.1789)

[ I05 ]
and to other elevations: in fabt, the article of
light is among those lead subjebt to rules, and
while it is undoubtedly an indispensible ingre-
dient, it is perhaps the mod deceptive of any
in a composition.
Is this an advantage, or a disadvantage ? An
advantage, very certainly, to those who know
how to improve it; sor as the variety os acci-
dents which occasion sudden transitions of light
is endless, it furnishes innumerable opportuni-
ties for selecffion and choice, to whoever has
sltill to choose aright.
You mud often have noticed this: while the
sky has been darkened with clouds, sometimes
they would separate, and permit a broad passage
for the sun beams ; then gradually closing, they
have contracted the illumination to a mere
span; and the effect of this light has been
various, according to the objefts whereon it
has fallen; whether on sields, on meadows, on
waters, on towns, on gilded turrets, or, on
humble thatch : whether on barren wade, or
on cultivated land; on woods, or parks, or
corn fields. Which latter objects, be it ob-
served, have, when agitated by the wind, a
mighty agreeable movement peculiar to them-
selves in the gradual bending and waving ot
the golden grain; to which effect the light
29 very