Ruskin, John: The elements of drawing: in three letters to beginners (London, 1857)

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THE ELEMENTS OF DRAWING. [letter I.

face, and the side view of them, or profile, shows a
wholly different organisation of branches from that
seen in the view from above. They are generally
seen more or less in profile, as you look at the
whole tree, and Nature puts her best composition
into the profile arrangement. But the view from
above or below occurs not unfrequently, also, and it
is quite necessary you should draw it if you wish to
understand the anatomy of the tree. The difference
between the two views is often far greater than you

could easily conceive. For instance, in Fig. 9., a is
the upper view, and b the profile, of a single spray
of Phillyrea. Fig. 8. is an intermediate view of
a larger bough; seen from beneath, but at some
lateral distance also.

When you have done a few branches in this man-

Fig. 9.