The harbours of England . n all but one the view is taken fromthe sea; for the spectator is necessarily tiredby the perpetual rush and sparkle of water,and ceases to be impressed by it. It wouldbe felt, if this plate were seen alone, thatthere are few marine paintings in which theweight and heaping of the sea are given sofaithfully. For the rest it is perhaps more to be re-gretted that we are kept to our sea-level at 3 TT I 14 THE HARBOURS OF ENGLAND Sidmouth than at any other of the localitiesillustrated. What claim the pretty littlevillage has to be considered as a port ofEngland, I know not
The harbours of England . n all but one the view is taken fromthe sea; for the spectator is necessarily tiredby the perpetual rush and sparkle of water,and ceases to be impressed by it. It wouldbe felt, if this plate were seen alone, thatthere are few marine paintings in which theweight and heaping of the sea are given sofaithfully. For the rest it is perhaps more to be re-gretted that we are kept to our sea-level at 3 TT I 14 THE HARBOURS OF ENGLAND Sidmouth than at any other of the localitiesillustrated. What claim the pretty littlevillage has to be considered as a port ofEngland, I know not; but if it was to beso ranked, a far more interesting study of itmight have been made from the heights abovethe town, whence the ranges of dark-redsandstone cliffs stretching to the south-westare singularly bold and varied. The detachedfragment of sandstone which forms the prin-cipal object in Turners view has long agofallen, and even while it stood could hardlyhave been worth the honour of so carefulillustration. WHITBY. X.—WHITBY As an expression of the general spirit ofEnglish coast scenery, this plate must beconsidered the principal one of the all the rest, it is a little too grand forits subject; but the exaggerations of spaceand size are more allowable here than inthe others, as partly necessary to conveythe feeling of danger conquered by activityand commerce, which characterises all ournortherly Eastern coast. There are cliffsmore terrible, and winds more wild, on othershores; but nowhere else do so many whitesails lean against the bleak wind, and glideacross the cliff shadows. Nor do I knowmany other memorials of monastic life sostriking as the abbey on that dark headland. We are apt in our journeys through lowland ii7 I I 5 THE HARBOURS OF ENGLAND England, to watch with some secret contemptthe general pleasantness of the vales in whichour abbeys were founded, without taking anypains to inquire into the particular circum-stances which directed or compelle
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Keywords: ., bookauthorruskinjo, bookcentury1800, bookdecade1890, bookyear1895
