LETTER XXII.

MY DEAR SIR;

UPON the supposition that the student has regularly attended the National Gallery during the winter months, and that the season is now arrived when he can pursue his studies from nature in the country, I will offer a few remarks upon the mode too frequently practised by young artists upon this occasion, by which the benefit that ought to result from the study of nature is defeated by devoting, in most instances, the whole of their time to making hasty pencil outlines, many of which are seldom of any use to them at a subsequent period; instead of which it appears to me that when a young artist arrives in the country, his first care should be to endeavour to acquire a knowledge of colour immediately from nature, for

which purpose he should select a portion, or perhaps the whole, of some picturesque foreground for his first essay, and allow ample time for the completion of his study. The middle of the day may be well employed in making a correct outline from some scene of a more extended character. I must also strenuously advise the student to avail himself of every opportunity to impress upon his mind not only the general appearance of nature, but also the various changes that take place, both as to colour and effect during the different times of the day, and the frequent, and sometimes sudden vicissitudes of the weather; and if he should have a talent for observation he will by this means be more likely, upon his return, to succeed in making pictures from his outlines. In order to profit by this mode of study, his mind must be perfectly free, his portfolio laid aside for the time, and his pencil employed only in making memoranda to refresh his memory at a future period. I wish it to be understood, that I by no means object to the

making of outlines for the purpose of collecting views, provided sufficient time be allowed to colour

a certain number of them, and unless this is persevered in, the artist might almost as well have remained at home; for on his return from the country with his sketches he will probably be quite at a loss as regards colour and effect, and therefore finding himself unequal to the task of making a picture from them, his only resource is to frequent the exhibitions to see what others have done, and by stealing a little from one and as much as he can from another, and by applying the result to his own picture, he makes sad confusion of it at last.

I am, &c.

MY DEAR SIR;

In order to direct the attention of the young artist to those interesting effects of nature, in which she appears to the greatest advantage, I will describe the different times of the day, and commence with the early morning, or dawn.

The first indication of the sun's approach to the horizon is a deep and glowing tint of red, extended along and at some little distance above it, melting as it ascends into a rich but sober tone of amber colour, succeeded by a tender blush of crimson, and terminating with gray, tending in some degree to blue; and if the moon should appear, her crescent will be to the south-east of the sun's situation, below the horizon, with an inclination towards the north. Immediately above the horizon,

and in contact with the red, will generally be seen a continued streak of purplish gray; the remote distance opposed to it will appear of a deep bluish gray tint; and the middle distance will partake more of the sombre gray than of any other colour. If trees or buildings are so situated upon the near ground as to appear against the sky, they will be of an undetermined solemn hue, which words are inadequate to describe. Their details also will be scarcely visible.

This brief description of the dawn will, I trust, be sufficient to induce the young artist to rise early, when, if he has a real love for nature and his art, he will be amply rewarded for quitting his couch, by the glorious display of colour which the sky exhibits at this invigorating time of the morning. But when the sun is first seen rising from the purple vail that obscured his glory, the clouds redden at his approach, and a burst of golden light is diffused around, which gilds with surpassing lustre every object that is opposed to

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