DOI Seite / Zitierlink:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.1211#0004
2
command, and is continually increasing and repaying them for the trouble
they have taken : while those who pursue the practical part alone, can make
no progress whenever their teacher or copy is withdrawn. The unwillingness
I have remarked in some to undertake what I now recommend, has been
owing, I believe, in a great measure, to its not being always obvious to
learners, how much a knowledge of drawing, of perspective, and of light and
shadow, would facilitate their progress in painting perishable objects in par-
ticular from nature. ' I shall therefore endeavour to point out their use and
application to flower painting in particular.
First, in regard to drawing, unless a person is quick in taking an accurate
one from nature, the object, if not gone, is at least in a different state, if much
time is spent over it, to what it was at first, which makes it infinitely more
difficult to paint: and as the habit of drawing quick can only be acquired by
practice, the necessity of practice will, I think, be evident, before any attempt
is made to paint from nature. Some people have a natural facility in drawing
from the first moment they attempt it, while others can only obtain it by
practice ; but as the power of doing it may be acquired (as in any other imi-
tative art) by application, the merit of the acquirement is certainly increased
by the means taken to obtain it. Secondly, in regard to perspective, it
teaches the method of drawing every object with judgment, in as great and
true proportion upon paper, &c. as they appear to the eye in nature. A little
observation shews that objects appear less and less distinct to the eye the
further they are distant from it, and more and more conspicuous the nearer
they are to it: for instance, a man standing at the nearer end of a long
avenue, will appear to a spectator near him of his full and natural size ; but if
he stands at the further end of it, he will appear to the spectator considerably
less: the avenue itself, though equally broad throughout, shall seem to narrow
command, and is continually increasing and repaying them for the trouble
they have taken : while those who pursue the practical part alone, can make
no progress whenever their teacher or copy is withdrawn. The unwillingness
I have remarked in some to undertake what I now recommend, has been
owing, I believe, in a great measure, to its not being always obvious to
learners, how much a knowledge of drawing, of perspective, and of light and
shadow, would facilitate their progress in painting perishable objects in par-
ticular from nature. ' I shall therefore endeavour to point out their use and
application to flower painting in particular.
First, in regard to drawing, unless a person is quick in taking an accurate
one from nature, the object, if not gone, is at least in a different state, if much
time is spent over it, to what it was at first, which makes it infinitely more
difficult to paint: and as the habit of drawing quick can only be acquired by
practice, the necessity of practice will, I think, be evident, before any attempt
is made to paint from nature. Some people have a natural facility in drawing
from the first moment they attempt it, while others can only obtain it by
practice ; but as the power of doing it may be acquired (as in any other imi-
tative art) by application, the merit of the acquirement is certainly increased
by the means taken to obtain it. Secondly, in regard to perspective, it
teaches the method of drawing every object with judgment, in as great and
true proportion upon paper, &c. as they appear to the eye in nature. A little
observation shews that objects appear less and less distinct to the eye the
further they are distant from it, and more and more conspicuous the nearer
they are to it: for instance, a man standing at the nearer end of a long
avenue, will appear to a spectator near him of his full and natural size ; but if
he stands at the further end of it, he will appear to the spectator considerably
less: the avenue itself, though equally broad throughout, shall seem to narrow