2f66 Mr Wilson'^s Observations on so?ne of the 



every thing is thus at last decided upon, the work is com- 

 menced and goes on without interference ; and should any 

 part of it prove less successful than was expected, there are 

 no reproaches, for the King at the previous council took his 

 share of responsibility. 



It will be easy to conceive that such a monarch is spoken 

 of with devoted attachment by the men he thus employs, and 

 that he is served with enthusiasm. Many express surprise 

 that the King of Bavaria should have been able to carry on 

 and complete such varied and extensive works, when it is 

 known that the resources of his kingdom cannot be very 

 great ; but he is aided by the devotion of his artists, who ac- 

 cept of moderate sums for their labour ; many of them will 

 leave immortal names, but few of them indeed will leave 

 fortunes. 



I beg that it may not be thought by these expressions that 

 I am of opinion that art should ever be poorly paid. I hold 

 a very opposite opinion ; it ought to be well paid, but not 

 extravagantly, as some seem to think. I regret to think 

 that, in our country, public undertakings are so frequently 

 viewed by individuals employed in them as sources of im- 

 mense emolument ; hence an outcry, hence opposition to every 

 undertaking that is not of the most utilitarian character, and 

 the apprehension of extravagant cost frequently deters from 

 many undertakings that would be beneficial to art. 



I admire the Bavarian artist who is content with the emolu- 

 ment which his king can afford to give him, and who under- 

 takes works at a moderate price for the love of art and the 

 honour of his country ; and this spirit prevails amongst all 

 who are employed, amongst artizans, as well as artists. The 

 Chevalier Klenze, the king's principal architect, informed me 

 that the operatives bestowed so much time and labour upon 

 every thing that they undertook for the king, that in the 

 earnest desire to make their work as perfect as possible, they 

 seriously impaired their profits. These are interesting facts, 

 and assist, at any rate, in explaining how so many works are 

 done, and so well done. 



The tendency of the Germans in art has been much mis- 

 represented in this country, and we have heard it repeated, 



