The canvas, which is of course of vast dimensions, can be raised to the ceiling, or lowered through the floor, to suit the convenience of the artist, by means of machinery of ingenious construction.

The painter has invariably made a preliminary water-colour sketch of his scene, on paper or cardboard.

Oftentimes, with the help of a miniature stage, such as schoolboys delight in, he is enabled to form a fair estimate of the effect that may be expected of his design.

The expansive canvas has been sized over, and an outline of the picture to be painted--a landscape, or an interior, as the case may be--has been boldly marked out by the artist.

Then the assistants and pupils ply their brushes, and wash in the broad masses of colour, floods of light, and clouds of darkness.