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

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can be without them : the prim lple runs through
every part of the figure, and according to
the dimensions of any part, is more or iess
sensible. Thus the arm laid on the table, is
foreshortened (to a specfator) from the wrist to
the elbow; the fingers are foreshortened in
some respect, or other, be the position of the
hand what it may. In our imitation of this essedt,
beside the accuracy of the outline, the applica-
tion of that retiring shade we have already
noticed, is principally to be depended on : for,
by its inssuence in moderating the brilliancy of
the parts foreshortened, it seems to increase the
vivacity and force of those where the light
{trikes; as the front, principally: or wherever
the parts receive another direction, as in the
already supposed case of the drawing-board;
so that, it appears, foreshortening and the re-
tiring shade are very closely allied.
The retiring shadow may also elucidate
(more, I think, than is usually supposed) the
nature of finijhing; which is nothing more than
bestowing on each part, or spot, that tone of
colour and tint proper to it. Thus, suppose
the brightest light to be in the middle of an
objettj a globe, if you please; around this
bright light the tint is lowered one degree,
around that two degrees, then three degrees,
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