John Le Capelain
John Le Capelain (1812-1848)
The effect of scenery is so much influenced by the atmosphere, that a short description of its effects on that Island ought not to be omitted in this work.
Surrounded by the sea, Jersey is almost every night shrouded in a mist which the rising sun in dissolving tinges with prismatic colours.
From the eastern coast is best seen the splendour of the sunrise – the cold, white light dawn silently creeping up the dark and starry sky, extinguishing their pale fires amid its rosy and increasing light
– blinds of golden brightness fret the clouds; the sune is near – is up; a stream of light dances over the pale blue sea and sparkles on the wet and pebbly beach: as the mists disappear each object becomes more defined, and everything shines in dewy freshness.
As the day advances, the sea – the true mirror of the sky – reflects its deeper blue; left bare by the receding tide, large tracts of sand and rocks of varied hue have quite changed the aspect of the scene; from the sun’s warm rays the green, cool valleys offer delightful retreats, – narrow winding and well wooded, they abound in scenes of perfect sylvan beauty.
Branching in every direction, shady lanes, lined by graceful elms, lead to every part of the island.
Along the western coast the glowing colours of the setting sun are reflected from each rocky headland and sandy bay, blending their rich hues with the pearly tints of the rising moon.
During the equinoctial gales, the storm-swept sea shivers its wild waves into glittering fragments along the rocky coast, whilst dark grey clouds cast their driving shadows over sea and land.
In the Drawings these various effects of sunrise, noon, sunset, twilight, moonlight, and storm, are given.
- ‘The Scenery of Jersey’ written by John Le Capelain to accompany his watercolours given to Queen Victoria in 1846
quoted by the Jersey Heritage Trust in their Jersey Artists series.
Reproduced with kind permission from the Jersey Heritage Trust.
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