One advantage of the discovery of the Photographic Art will be, that it
will enable us to introduce into our pictures a multitude of minute
details which add to the truth and reality of the representation, but
which no artist would take the trouble to copy faithfully from nature.
Contenting himself with a general effect, he would probably deem it
beneath his genius to copy every accident of light and shade; nor could he
do so indeed, without a disproportionate expenditure of time and trouble,
which might be otherwise much better employed.
Nevertheless, it is well to have the means at our disposal of introducing
these minutiæ without any additional trouble, for they will sometimes be
found to give an air of variety beyond expectation to the scene
represented.
[PLATE XI. COPY OF A LITHOGRAPHIC PRINT.]