THE art of painting in oils is a very difficult one, and
not the least of its difficulties consists in the great
uncertainty that exists as to the proper methods to be
pursued. As a rule the great painters have been too
much occupied with their painting to explain to the
world how their effects have been produced. Indeed,
it would seem that they have not always known
themselves ; for when they have theorized upon the
subject their theories have been often quite irreconcilable
with their practice.
Fortunately, they have generally had pupils who
have carried on the tradition of their masters' work,
and on the Continent this excellent system is still in
force at the present day, for most of the great foreign
painters think it their duty to give up a certain
amount of their time to teaching, without any other
reward than the additional fame conferred on them
by the successes of their pupils.
not the least of its difficulties consists in the great
uncertainty that exists as to the proper methods to be
pursued. As a rule the great painters have been too
much occupied with their painting to explain to the
world how their effects have been produced. Indeed,
it would seem that they have not always known
themselves ; for when they have theorized upon the
subject their theories have been often quite irreconcilable
with their practice.
Fortunately, they have generally had pupils who
have carried on the tradition of their masters' work,
and on the Continent this excellent system is still in
force at the present day, for most of the great foreign
painters think it their duty to give up a certain
amount of their time to teaching, without any other
reward than the additional fame conferred on them
by the successes of their pupils.
