It is the purpose of this book to deal practically with the problems which are the study of the painter, and to make clear, as far as may be, the principles which are involved in them. I believe that this is the only way in which written instruction on painting can be of any use.

It is impossible to understand principles without some statement of theory; and a book in order to be practical must therefore be to some extent theoretical. I have been as concise and brief in the theoretical parts as clearness would permit of, and I trust they are not out of proportion to the practical parts. Either to paint well, or to judge well of a painting, requires an understanding of the same things: namely, the theoretical standpoint of the painter; the technical problems of color, composition, etc.; and the practical means, processes, and materials through which and with which these are worked out.

It is obvious that one cannot become a good painter without the ability to know what is good painting, and to prefer it to bad painting. Therefore, I have taken space to cover, in some sort, the whole ground, as the best way to help the student towards becoming a good painter. If, also, the student of pictures should find in this book what will help him to appreciate more truly and more critically, I shall be gratified.

D. B. P.

December 4, 1897

CONTENTS

[PART I.—MATERIALS]
CHAPTER PAGE
[I.]Observations[3]
[II.]Canvases and Panels[6]
[III.]Easels[15]
[IV.]Brushes[20]
[V.]Paints[33]
[VI.]Vehicles and Varnishes[61]
[VII.]Palettes[65]
[VIII.]Other Tools[69]
[IX.]Studios[76]
[PART II.—GENERAL PRINCIPLES]
[X.]Mental Attitude[85]
[XI.]Tradition and Individuality[95]
[XII.]Originality[103]
[XIII.]The Artist and the Student[107]
[XIV.]How to Study[110]
[PART III.—TECHNICAL PRINCIPLES]
[XV.]Technical Preliminaries[123]
[XVI.]Drawing[126]
[XVII.]Values[138]
[XVIII.]Perspective[146]
[XIX.]Light and Shade[151]
[XX.]Composition[166]
[XXI.]Color[184]
[PART IV.—PRACTICAL APPLICATION]
[XXII.]Representation[209]
[XXIII.]Manipulation[224]
[XXIV.]Copying[236]
[XXV.]Kinds of Painting[242]
[XXVI.]The Sketch[245]
[XXVII.]The Study[254]
[XXVIII.]Still Life[260]
[XXIX.]Flowers[280]
[XXX.]Portraits[286]
[XXXI.]Landscape[309]
[XXXII.]Marines[335]
[XXXIII.]Figures[347]
[XXXIV.]Procedure in a Picture[371]
[XXXV.]Difficulties of Beginners[389]