Know first, that light displays and shade
Refulgent Nature's variegated dyes.
Thus bodies near the light distinctly shine With rays direct, and as it fades decline.
Thus to the eye oppos'd with stronger light They meet its orb, for distance dims the sight.
Learn hence to paint the parts that meet
In sperick forms, of bright and equal hue;
While, from the light receding or the eye,
The sinking outlines take a fainter dye,
Lux varium, vivumque dabit, nullum umbra, colorem.
Quo magis adversum est corpus, lucique propinquum.
Clarius est lumen; nam debilitatur eundo.
Quo magis est corpus directum, oculisque propinquum,
Conspicitur melius; nam visus hebescit eundo. "Ergo in corporibus, quæ visa adversa, rotundis, Integra sunt, extrema abscedant perdita signis
XXXI. The conduct of the Tints of Light and Shadow.
" XXXI. Tonorum Lu¬ minum et Umbrarum ratio,
Lost and confused progressively they fade, 375 Not fall precipitate from light to shade. This Nature dictates, and this taste pursues, Studious in gradual gloom her lights to lose; The various whole with soft'ning tints to fill, As if one single head employ'd her skill. Thus if bold fancy plan some proud design, Where many various various groups divide or join, (Tho' sure from more than there confusion springs,)
One globe of light and shade o'er all she
Yet skill'd the separate masses to dispose, 385 Where'er, in front, the fuller radiance glows, Behind, a calm reposing gloom she spreads, Relieving shades with light, and light with shades.
Confusis, non præcipiti labentur in umbram
Clara gradu, nec adumbrata in clara alta repentè 275
Prorumpant; sed erit sensim hinc atque inde meatus
Lucis et umbrarum; capitisque unius ad instar,
Totum opus, ex multis quanquam sit partibus, unus
Luminis umbrarumque globus tantummodo fiet,
Sive duas, vel tres ad summum, ubi grandius esset 28*
Divisum pegma in partes statione remotas.
And as the center of some convex glass,
Draws to a point the congregated mass-
Of dazzling rays, that, more than nature bright,
Reflect each image in an orb of light,
While from that point the scatter'd beams retire,
Sink to the verge, and there in shade expire;
So strongly near, so softly distant throw
On all thy rounded groups the circling glow.
As is the Sculptor's, such the Painter's aim, Their labour different, but their end the same: What from the marble the rude chissel breaks, The softer pencil from the canvas takes;
Sintque ita discreti inter se, ratione colorum,
Luminis, umbrarumque, antrorsum ut corpora clara
Obscura umbrarum requies spectanda relinquat ;
Claroque exiliant umbrata atque aspera campo.
Ac veluti in speculis convexis, eminet ante
Asperior reipsâ vigor, et vis aucta colorum
Partibus adversis; magis et fuga rupta retrorsum
Illorum est, ut visa minùs vergentibus oris,)
Corporibus dabimus formas hoc more rotundas.
Mente modoque igitur plastes, et pictor, eodem
Dispositum tractabit opus; quæ sculptor in orbem
Atterit, hæc rupto procul abscedente colore
Assequitur pictor, fugientiaque illa retrorsum
And, skill'd remoter distances to keep,
Surrounds the outline pale in shadows deep;
While on the front the sparkling lustre plays,
And meets the eye in full meridian blaze.
True Colouring thus in plastick power excells,
Fair to the visual point her forms she swells,
And lifts them from their flat aërial ground
Warm as the life, and as the statue round.
* In silver clouds in ether's blue domain,
Or the clear mirrour of the watry plain,
If chance some solid substance claim a place,
Firm and opaque amid the lucid space,
Jam signata minùs confusa coloribus aufert:
Anteriora quidem directé adversa, colore
Integra vivaci, summo cum lumine et umbra
Antrorsum distincta refert, velut aspera visu;
Sicque super planum inducit leucoma colores,
Hos velut ex ipsâ naturâ immotus eodem
Intuitu circum statuas daret inde rotundas.
'Densa figurarum solidis
quæ corpora formis
Subdita sunt tactu, non translucent, sed opaca
que bodies with translucent et opaca cum translucentibus.
Rough let it swell and boldly meet the sight, Mark'd with peculiar strength of shade and light;
There blend each earthy tint of heaviest sort, 415
At once to give consistence and support,
While the bright wave, soft cloud, or azure
Light and pellucid from that substance fly.
z Permit not two conspicuous lights to shine
With rival radiance in the same design;
But yield to one alone the power to blaze
And spread th' extensive vigour of its rays,
In translucendi spatio ut super aëra, nubes,
Limpida stagna undarum, et inania cætera debent 305
Asperiora illis prope circumstantibus esse;
Ut distincta magis firmo cum lumine et umbra,
Et gravioribus ut sustenta coloribus, inter
Aërias species subsistant semper opaca :
Sed contra, procul abscedant prelucida, densis
Corporibus leviora; uti nubes, aër, et undæ.
a Non poterunt diversa locis duo lumina eâdem
In tabulâ paria admitti, aut æqualia pingi :
a XXXIII. Non duo ex cœlo Lumina in tabulam æqualia.
|