In fact side-scenes or wings can be regarded as little better than so many detached screens absolutely necessary to shut out from view the space on each side of the stage, since in themselves they rather detract from than at all aid illusion and effect ; more especially in interiors, where what should represent a continuous wall or surface on either side is broken into several pieces, which are besides placed parallel to the back scene or flat, instead of being at right angles to it. If the scenery be viewed exactly from the centre and from the true perspec tive distance. the defect thus occasioned is not very striking or offen sive ; but if the spectator he near to the stage, or placed on one side of the house, the whole becomes more or less distorted, and the wings appear to be only so many disjointed fragments, so that all scenic illusion is destroyed.
Scene-painting is executed in distemper, that is, with colours mixed up with size, the design being first made in a sketch, which is accu rately laid down to scale, and from which the perspective outlines are transferred to the larger surface. Instead of beginning with dead colouring and then gradually working up his picture, the artist puts in all his effects at once, (as in fresco-painting)—the full tone of the lights and shadows, finishing as he proceeds, and merely retouching or glazing those parts afterwards which require additional depth or brilliancy. In this kind of painting, brarera of execution and strikingness of effect are indispensable, end nature must be rather exaggerated than the contrary; at the Kum time care 'must be taken led mere gaudiness be substituted for brilliancy and richuess. Further, as much of the
costume of the piece depends upon him, it is important that the scene painter should not only be skilled in architectural delineation, but also well informed as tq the styles of different countries and periods, so as to avoid those errors and anachronisms which are frequently com mitted, and which are sometimes so glaring that no beauty of execution tau atone for them.
Much of the effect of scenery depends upon a skilful mode of light ing it ; in which respect considerable improvements have taken place of late years, and the light is now occasionally thrown from above, as well as from the sides and the foot-lights, coloured glass and other con trivances being also occasionally employed. A variety of mechanical contrivances have indeed been brought to great perfection so as to imitate particular effects in the meet deceptive manner, such as those of moonlight, where the moon breaks through the clouds and gleams upon water, &c., changes of the sky from clear to stormy, or the con trary, the sudden glare of fire, fie. ; the most elaborate and costly combinations of mechanical apparatus with carefully painted scenery are now exhibited in the "transformation scenes" of Christmas panto mimes and extravaganzas.
Though looked upon as a very subordinate branch of the pictorial art, many artists of superior ability have applied themselves to scene painting. To the name of l'eruzzi we may add those of Bibiena, Ser vandom, Loutherbourg, Lambert, Rooker, Gonz ago, Quaglio, Sanqui rico. Stanfield, Roberts, Grieve, and Beverly.