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Print, aquatint, extensive valley, by William Gilpin,
1772-74, published by T Cadell and W Davies, Strand, London,
1808.
Vol.2 opposite p.41 in Observations on Several Parts of
England, Particularly the Mountains and Lakes of Cumberland
Westmoreland, Relative Chiefly to Picturesque Beauty, 3rd
edn 1808.
The list of plates has:-
'XVI. / AN illustration of that beautiful species of
landscape, produced by an extensive vale. Gradation is among
the first principles of picturesque beauty. A graduating
light, a graduating shade, or a graduating distance, are all
beautiful. When the vale therefore does not exceed such a
proportion, as is adapted to the eye, it is pleasing to see
it fading away gradually, from the fore-ground, into the
obscurity of distance. It presents indeed only one uniform
idea; which, tho often grand, is not generally so pleasing,
as the variety, and intricacy of a country broken into
parts, and yet harmoniously combined.'
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