PlNE ARTS. 355 



But a sitting of half an hour would put all to rights. There is much 

 merit in the picture, and the identity of individual character, which con- 

 stitutes so great a value in a portrait, is very happily expressed. 



*' 97 — The Bridesmaid," the property of the Rt. Hon. Sir Roht. Peel, 

 Bart,, by E. T. Parris, is a young and pleasing female, alone in her 

 dhamber. There is much easy elegance in her person and dress, and a 

 vefy interesting expression on her countenance. This design is well 

 known, by the popular print engraved from it, and to be seen, for some 

 months back, in almost every print-shop. 



*' 86 — Wafting Love to the World," by Miss Kendrick, is a very tasteful 

 design, conceived in the spirit of poetry, and painted with a swe^t pencil, 

 in glowing colours. 



" 156 — A Gig Horse and Terrier, '^ the property of -Mr. George "Wilmot, 

 by E. M. Fox. These are not only correctly drawn, well coloured, ana 

 painted with a firm pencil, and a good effect, but they are wholly free 

 from that formality and stiffness, which, too frequently, render portraits 

 of horses and dogs an offence to the eye of taste. These possess attrac* 

 tions as works of art. This artist has "70 — Portrait of a brace of 

 Pointers," and " 68 — Of a Black Horse," which, each, have much merit* 



Oct. 8, 1834. 



P. S. The three Birmingham newspapers, having every honourable 

 motive and local advantage, with the pictures immediately under their eyes, 

 to stimulate their exertions, have, no doubt, strenuously and impartially 

 advocated the native genius in this splendid display by their townsmen. 

 The close of this annual triumph over anti-modern prejudice and the 

 vested interests of ancient art, terminates my critical observations on its 

 merits. But, if the exhibition were to remain open for a twelvemonth, 

 and my health permitted, I would be happy to continue these notices to 

 the best of my humble ability, solely to keep the subject of British art 

 alive in the public mind. If I did no good, I might hope to do no harm. 

 In page 199 of **The Analyst'' for October, I gave ten lines to '* 133 — « 

 The Moorish Tower, called the Geralada," by D. Roberts j in page 200, 

 twelve lines to " 19 — Throwing the Casting Net," by J. R, Lee j and in 

 page 201, ten lines to ** 159 — Francis the First and Francois de Foix," h-f 

 D. Mac Clise. My notes were penciled in the rooms, on the 11th of 

 September, the day the exhibition *opened, and the day after. I have 

 learned that those three paintings have been since sold, at the highest 

 prices in the list of sales. The magnificent Moorish Tower sold, 

 according to report, for 250 guineas; Throwing the Casting Net for 

 120 guineas; and Francis the First and Francois de Foix for 250 

 guineas. These prices have been involved in much unaccountable 

 mystery, which has produced a doubt of their amount, and I do not 

 vouch for the correctness of mere report. I have not any reason or 

 knowledge whatever to presume that the three amateurs, who pur- 

 chased these superb British works of art, did or did not, read my critical 

 commendation of them in *' The Analyst." I will, moreover, rashly 

 venture, from mere surmise, without any evidence, to say I think 

 it rather probable they did not. But, even assuming this mere surmise 

 for a fact, still it is pleasant to think if my commendation has had no 

 share in promoting their sale, it did not write them down. It is art 

 encouragement to proceed in future, to find that the most liberal and 

 judicious have concurred in opinion with mine ; and very satisfactory td 

 learn that my high sense of those three admirable performances has so 

 speedily been followed by a public confirmation. This agreement may, 

 perhaps, entitle my general estimate of British excellence to some 

 additional consideration ; and it is in this latter useful view only that the 

 circumstance is here noticed. W. C. 



