Stranica 13 [13]
PREFACE
N presenting the following essay to the public,
the author disclaims at the outset all pretension
to teach anyone how to paint. His aim has been
to give his readers an elementary acquaintance from
the scientific side with the subject of the reflexions
and colours seen in water, and he believes that an
artist who will approach it from this standpoint will
find a study of the questions discussed in these pages
to be both of interest and service. In this, as in
other cases, a true enjoyment of nature will not be
marred, but rather increased, by a closer examination
of her methods.
The book being intended primarily for the use of
the artist or art student, there is no attempt to make
the account of the subject scientifically complete,
even in the ground which these pages cover. The
principles involved are of a very elementary nature,
and not likely to discourage the most diffident.
While an endeavour has been made not to sacrifice
accuracy to simplicity of treatment, all technicalities
have been excluded as far as possible, though occa¬
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