the mirror-like water. Another early artist of whom little seems to be known is William Bellers.[599] Numerous engravings by Mason from landscapes “Painted after Nature by William Bellers” occur from 1752 to 1759. He was a Cumberland man and nearly all of his pictures are of scenes in that county and in Westmoreland. As art his work cannot rank high, but not even his fluffy hills, tossed together without a suggestion of rock foundation, nor his lack of aërial perspective, can obscure the delight with which he painted the picturesque scenery of his native regions. Bellers was apparently the first one of the long line of Lake Country artists and his pictures antedate by some years the known descriptions in poetry, travels, and fiction. Thomas Smith also painted in Westmoreland and other northern counties but there is no means of determining whether his pictures are earlier or later than those of Bellers. Alexander Cozens (d. 1786), was sent to study art in Italy. He returned to England in 1746 and exhibited from 1760 to 1781. There are at South Kensington several examples of his work, especially two interesting mountain landscapes. In the British Museum are fifty-four drawings which belong to his Italian period. Some of these are extensive views. Some of them show interesting experiments such as the attempt to represent sunlight streaming through clouds. “Altogether,” says Mr. Monkhouse, “these show that Cozens before his arrival in England, was a well-trained artist who observed Nature for himself, and was not without poetical skill” and Mr. Monkhouse finds in the “imagination, ingenuity, and trained skill” of the father adequate explanation of his son, John Robert Cozens, whose work will be noted in the next section.[600] The work of Alexander Cozens was particularly that of teaching art.[601] John Boydell (1719–1804), better known as a publisher of prints than as an original artist, yet did some interesting early work. In 1736 his interest in scenery was aroused by “a book of well-executed landscape engravings.” In 1745 he brought out a series of “landscapes for learners” the tremendous success of which laid the foundation of his great fortune, and throughout his life his activities as publisher were largely affected by his love of scenery. He was the first artist to paint in Wales. A large print done by him from one of his own pictures and bearing the date 1750 is an attempt to represent Mount Snowdon. Paul Sandby (1725–1809) is of more importance in the history of landscape art than any of the men already mentioned, but most of his work belongs after 1755. His sketches in the Highlands, whither he went as draughtsman on a road survey, were, however, made during the years 1746–51[602] and his exquisite aquatint studies of the country about Windsor belong about 1751–52 when he was with his brother Thomas at the deputy ranger’s lodge at Windsor. [Illustration: MOUNT SNOWDON _By John Boydell_]