Oldal 142 [142]
80 LIGHT AND WATER
a stream, we require three conditions to help us: Ist,
to look down into the water as vertically as possible;
2nd, bright sunshine to light up the bed of the stream;
and 3rd, to be able to get into such a position that
the reflexion of the bright sky is cut off by the image
of a tree or other dark object. So we see that the two
pictures presented to us when we look at the water,
the one formed by light reflected at the surface, and
the other by light coming from beneath the surface
(whether the latter consist of stones, weeds or other
objects distinctly visible beneath the surface, or only
a general impression of colour), are, as it were, always
contending with each other for pre-eminence, and that
each is largely dependent, not only on the angle of
vision, but also on the amount of its illumination as
compared with that of its rival.
The whole ground covered by this chapter is so
admirably expressed by Ruskin in his “ Elements of
Drawing,‘ that we cannot do better than quote his
words as far as they serve to illustrate the points we
are here concerned with. |
‘When you are drawing shallow or muddy water,
you will see shadows on the bottom, or on the surface,
continually modifying the reflections; and in a clear
mountain stream, the most wonderful complications
of effect resulting from the shadows and reflections of
the stones in it, mingling with the aspect of the stones
themselves seen through the water. Do not be fright¬
ened at the complexity; but, on the other hand, do
not hope to render it hastily. Look at it well, making
out everything that you see, and distinguishing each
" Sixth edition, pages 179-182.