19. In _colouring_, the _sky_ gives the _ruling tint_ to the landscape; it is absurd to unite a noonday sky, with a landscape of sunset glow. 20. From the three virgin colours, red, blue, and yellow, all the tints of nature are composed.[7] There is not in nature a perfect white, except snow, and the petals of some flowers. [Footnote 7: The artist, however, cannot produce _his_ tints from those simple colours _entirely_, but the advice once given to the writer, by a painter, was:--"Never fancy that _many_ colours will effect your object; a _few_ well chosen will better succeed, and be more easily managed; half-a-dozen would, for _me_, answer every purpose." The student is warned against _gaudy colouring_, which, if allowable in _caricatures_ seen _elsewhere_, reminds one of pedlar's pictures.] 21. Sketch nothing but what you can _adorn_, (for the purpose of showing to friends, &c.) but do not adorn your first, or _rough_ sketch; _make another_, and refer to your _original_ draught, as you would do to the view itself, for it contains your _general ideas_--your first and freshest, which may be lost by endeavouring to refine and improve upon them in the original sketch.[8] [Footnote 8: The old masters are well known to have made carefully _many_ sketches of the subjects they designed for pictures, ere they dreamt of painting compositions that were to last for ever.] 22. In adorning your sketch, figures, both animate and inanimate, may be introduced, but _sparingly_; touch them slightly, for an attempt at _finish_ offends. I shall take the liberty of adding--endeavour to get a free and flowing outline; be not too minute either in detail or finishing; use pen or brush for your _rough_ sketch in preference to pencil; you will gain confidence, and _correctness_ will be your aim in your _adorned_ copy. Finally, study nature, art, and good writers. M.L.B. * * * * * FINE ARTS. (_To the Editor of the Mirror._) Sir,--I have made repeated visits this season to the exhibition of the works of the old masters at the _British Institution_, for the express purpose of presenting you with _a few remarks_ on some of the most excellent paintings. As I have strictly adhered to the notes which I made at the institution, the accuracy of the subjoined may be depended upon:-- BRITISH INSTITUTION. The present exhibition consists of the works of the Italian, Spanish, Flemish, and Dutch masters. There are one hundred and ninety pictures, which have chiefly been contributed to the institution by his Majesty and the nobility.