INTRODUCTION.
* Nallins addietus jurare in rerba magistri,
" Quo me eungue rapit tempestas, deferor hospes."-noR ACE.
THE Author rests in the belief that the present collection of Prints of Rural Landscape may not be found wholly unworthy of attention. It originated in no mercenary views, but
merely as a pleasing professional occupation, and was continued with a hope of imparting pleasure and instruction to others. He had imagined to himself certain objects in art, and has always
pursued them. Much of the Landscape, forming the subject of these Plates, going far to embody his ideas (owing perhaps to the rich and feeling manner in which they are engraved) he has
been tempted to publish them, and offers them as the result of his own experience, founded as he conceives it to be in a just olservation of natural scenery in its various aspects. From the
almost universal esteem in which the Arts are now held, the Author is encouraged to hope that this work may not be found unacceptable, since perhaps no branch of the Art offers a more
inviting field of study than Landscape.
" Soul-soothing Art! whom morning, noon-tide, even,
" Do serve with all their fitful pageantry."
The immediate aim of the Author in this publication is to increase the interest for, and promote the study of, the Rural Scenery of England, with all its endearing associations, its
amenities, and even in its most simple localities; abounding as it does in grandeur, and every description of Pastoral Beauty : England, with her climate of more than vernal freshness, and
in whose summer skies, " with thousand liveries dight," and rich autumnal clouds, the observer of Nature may daily watch her endless varieties of effect.
But perhaps it is in its professional character that this work may be most considered, so far as it respects the ART; its aim being to direct attention to the source of one of its most
eficient principles, the "CHLAR'OSCUURO OF NATURE," to mark the influence of light and shadow upon Landseape, not only in its general impression, and as a means of rendering a proper
emphasis on the parts, but also to show its use and power as a medium of expression, so as to note “ the day, the hour, the sunshine, and the shade." In some of these subjects of Landscape
an attempt has been made to arrest the more abrupt and transient appearances of the CHIAR'OSCURO IN NATURE: to shew its effect in the most striking manner, to give " to one brief moment
caught from fleeting time," a lasting and sober existence, and to render permanent many of those splendid but evanescent Exhilbitions, which are ever occurring in the endless varieties of
Nature, in her external changes.
" Still would my partial peneil love to dwell
" On the home prospeet of my hermit cell,
* Still must it trace (the fleeting tints forgive)
Each fleeting eharm that bids the landscape live.
The effects of light and shadow selected for these views, are transcripts only of such as occurred at the time of their being taken. The subjects, most of which are from the
Pictures exhibited by the Author at the Royal Academy during the last few years, consist chiefly of home seenery; they are taken from real places, and are meant particularly to charac-
terize the scenery of England. In their selection a partiality has perhaps been given to those of a particular neighbourhood: some of them, however, may be more generally interesting.
as the scenes of many of the marked historical events of our middle ages.
In Art as in Literature, there are two modes by whieh men endeavour to attain the same end, and seek distinction. In the one, the Artist, intent only on the study of departed excellence, or
on what others have accomplished, becomes an imitator of their works, or he selects and combines their various beauties; in the other he seeks perfection at its PRIMITIVE SOURCE, NATURE.
The one, forms a style upon the study of pictures, or the art alone; and produces, either " imitative," "seholastic," or that which has been termed "Eelectie Art." The other, by study
equally legitimately founded in art, but further pursued in such a far more expansive field, soon finds for himself innumerable sources of study, hitherto unexplored, fertile in beauty, and
by attempting to display them for the first time, forms a style which is original; thus adding to the Art, qualities of Nature unknown to it before. The results of the one mode, as they
merely repeat what has been done by others, and by having the aPpearance of that with which the eye is already familiar, can be easily comprehended, soon estimated, and are at once
received. Thus the rise of an Artist in a sphere of his own must almost certainly be delayed; it is to time generally that the justness of his claims to a lasting reputation will be left; so few
appreciate any deviation from a beaten track, can trace the indications of Talent in immaturity, or are qualified to judge of productions bearing an original cast of mind, of genuine study, and
of consequent novelty of style in their mode of execution.
33. CILARLOTTE STREET, FITZROY SQUARR.
Janry, I3