Autograph letter signed : place not specified, to Mrs. Hewitt, undated.

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Autograph letter signed : place not specified, to Mrs. Hewitt, undated.

http://www.worldcat.org/oclc/752000498

Offering his criticism of a painting she did of scarlet leaves; saying that "all good painting--like good playing--depends upon a fineness of touch quite too subtle to be explained--being a unity of intense firmness with intense lightness, The hand of a fine painter is so strong that he can sweep a line five or six feet long without a single quiver of his brush point. But its lightness is also so great that at any point of the sweep he could, if he chose, (supposing the brush dry), touch a butterfly's wing all across and not take the down off. Now all good painting in water or oil alike is completed with then ineffably light touches. Heavy touches are literally daubing--not painting at all. No good colour can be got but by this lightness. You never try for this. it will be a long time yet before you even feel it;" discussing, at length, the specifics of balance of light and shade; including a diagram of shade and hue; saying that she "must be content to lose much time and fail repeatedly and discouragingly."

1 item (5 p.) ; 17.8 cm

Pierpont Morgan Library.

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SNAC Resource ID: 8127287

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Ruskin, John, 1819-1900

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Hewitt, Mary E. (Mary Elizabeth), 1807-1894

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