The artists repository and drawing magazine: exhibiting the principles of the polite arts in their various branches (4.1790)

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jects, according as it is oppofed to dark colours, fha-
dows, &c. without which oppofition, it rather contri-
butes to diftance.

White may maintain itfelf on the front of a picture,
and be employed pure : but it has been hefitated, whether it
may maintain itfelf in diftances, the light being fuppofed
common. Dufresnoy concludes in the affirmative,
becaufe it is the neareft approach to light; and thus
Titian, Paul Veronese, and others, who have bell
underftood light, have regarded it ; and in landfcapes
it is generally fo employed.

Black brings forward all objects to which it is ap-
plied : by a happy contrail of white and black, the mod
agreeable effects are obtained.

If, for example, it were required to paint a white horfe
on the front of the picture, it would be neceffary, in
order to determine the ftation of the object, to contrail
it—either with a darkifh back ground, or darkilh har-
nefs, or a rider, whofe dreTs might be of a colour either
darkilh, or at lealt fenfible and firm.

When black is employed to advance an object, the
utmoft care mould be taken that it does not make /pots
or boles, but that it harmonizes with the malfes.

AERIAL Objects are thofe which by their light-
nefs feem fufpended in the air, or to have a relation to
that element. To this effect, light colours, light dra-
pery, as it were, tranfparent, and eafily agitated, very
greatly contribute.

Aerial Perspective, although ufually applied to
the effect of fuch diftances as permit the air to difcolour
them, yet is more or lefs operative on every object, and

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