On Picturesque Beauty

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Picturesque(adj.): Having the elements or qualities of a picture; suitable for a picture; spec. (of a view, landscape, etc.) pleasing or striking in appearance; scenic. Now freq. in weakened sense (sometimes depreciative or ironic): pretty in an undeveloped or old-fashioned way; charming, quaint, unspoilt.

Image Analysis

"On Picturesque Beauty" explores the qualities that make an object picturesque.  Some of the criteria mentioned are as follows:
  • Roughness
  • Variety
  • Contrast
  • Proportionality
According to the author, the presence of such qualities make the image more interesting and less bland and can be used to implement and enhance the effects of artistic techniques such as lighting and coloring.

Larger versions of Figures 2 and 3 are displayed below:
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Fig2 enhanced
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Fig3 Enhanced
Images in Fig2 and Fig3 pulled from the text "On Picturesque Beauty" between pages 18 and 19.