202 FINE ARTS. 



Martin Archer Shee, which have engaged much attention ; tlie one is 

 *'85--Sir Henry Halford, Sfc. SfC." the other "96—lheRt. Hon. Lord 

 Denman, Lord Chief Justice of England." These are fair specimens of 

 the President's never-failing talent at resemblance. " 82 — The Rev. 

 Adam Sedgwick, Woodwardian Professor of Geology at the University of 

 Cambridge " is a very excellent three-quarter length, by T. Fhillips, R. A. 

 *' 70 — Children of J. Far quhar Eraser, Esq." by H. Wyatt, is an agreeable 

 family picture, well composed, and coloured with freshness and vigour. 

 In the front room, west, ** 306 — Come away to the Masquerade," by the 

 same artist, is a small three-quarter length of a young and handsome 

 lady, with a sprightly smile on her lip, and a gay sparkle in her eye, 

 giving an invitation to the temple of fashionable dissipation. She is 

 dressed in a by-gone showy Parisian mode, and painted with a free, firm 

 pencil, a bright, fresh complexion, and a delightful flush of youth, hope, 

 and joy on her countenance. 



'* Napoleon in St. Helena," the property of Sir Robt. Peel, Bart, is by B, 

 R. Haydon. Bonaparte is represented nearly in a back view, standing on a 

 rock overhanging the sea, with his arms folded and looking out towards 

 Europe, the scene of his unparalleled vicissitudes. He wears his usual 

 military coat, cocked hat, and boots, and, although his features are not 

 seen, the correct outline of his person and head instantly point out the 

 imperial exile. There is a grandeur in the contemplative quietude of the 

 attitude, and in the ideas of immensity associated with the solitude of 

 his remote island-prison. The ocean spreads in one undivided, im- 

 measurable extent before him, and the sky equally still and unbroken, 

 bounds his earthly view. His figure at once brings to our mind the 

 succession of revolutions in which he shook and overturned thrones, and 

 changed the destinies of great kingdoms and states. These memorable 

 changes, and the death of nearly a million of victims, who perished in the 

 wars, in which he was engaged, are all calculated to rivet attention on this 

 noble historical portrait. But how Philosophers, and Divines, and 

 Statesmen, who affect to esteem and admire Washington, can, also, affect 

 to esteem and admire Bonaparte, is a question beyond my solution ! 



There are a number of other excellent portraits in the rooms, which I 

 am unwillingly necessitated to pass without notice. I cannot, however, 

 close without calling the attention of the reader to the fact that Sir 

 Robert Peel, Bart., that munificent encourager of the arts, has con- 

 tributed thirteen British pictures, from his splendid collection, to this 

 exhibition, and Charles Price, Esq. thirty- four capital productions of 

 the British pencil. It is due to the tasteful acumen of this liberal patron 

 of the native school, to name the eminent artists, of whose genius he has 

 selected these choice specimens, — Constable, Cattermole, Liversege, 

 Stanfield, G. Barret, C. J. Fielding, Oakly, Girtin, Prout, J. D. Harding, 

 Taylor and Barret, W. Hunt, Callcott, Bonington, A. E. Chalon, S. 

 Austin, J. M. W. Turner, J. F, Lewis, and J. Glover. By some of these 

 he has two, by others three, gems of the most brilliant quality. 



In the sculpture room, there are two superb busts in marble, by 

 P. Hollins ; one of them the Hon. Mrs. Norton, and the other William 

 HoUins, Esq. These two, and his marble statue of the daughter of 

 Vincent Thomson, Esq., a production of exquisite taste and beauty, 

 place this sculptor in the first class of his profession. " 530 — A Group. 

 The Slaying of the Children by order of Herod," a model, by 5. IV. 

 Arnald, which obtained the gold medal at the Royal Academy, is com- 

 posed with admirable feeling and a refined sense of beautiful form. 

 The infantine roundness and tender fleshiness of the boys, remind me of 

 the beauties, which are so highly admired in the boys of Flamingo. 



