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Undated note written by Benjamin West giving instructions on how to achieve the effect of light at midday in a landscape painting.
 Note

on these (illegible) when very nearly dry, add one still darker, if required, leaving the Tone generally darker than rocks or lawn, a tree in the foreground and another at a considerable distance perhaps a 1/4 of a mile (both supposed in light.) The light of the former, much darker than the light of the latter.

Atmosphere most (illegible) produces red light, less so, yellowish, least so (as in a frosty night), blue. Where you want any of these general effects, the colour that rules it must be (illegible) in your dead ground.


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