THE king's visit TO THE ATHEN^UM. 47 



situation in the group. This considered, Mr. Ball has 

 done well : he has varied the position of the numerous 

 countenances as much as the presence of royalty can 

 be supposed to admit ; for Lord High Admirals of the 

 Guelph family are not found in the Athenseum every 

 day ; and when they do appear, it must be expected 

 that, they will prove more attractive than plaster casts. 

 The faces, therefore, for the most part are directed 

 towards the Duke of Clarence (now our king : God 

 save him ! ) and among these are many excellent like- 

 nesses. The portraits given, (besides those of the 

 King, Sir Byam Martin, kc.) are of the President of 

 the Institution and proprietor of the picture ; Messrs. 

 Norman, Johns, E. Gandy, H. Gandy and son, CoL 

 Hamilton Smith, Dr. Cookworthy, the Rev. Messrs. 

 Lampen, Rowe, Luney, Coleridge, Byrth and Macau- 

 lay ; Messrs. Prance, Prideaux, Wightwick, Fuge, 

 Eastlake, Gill and Coryndon ; Drs. Hingston and E. 

 Moore, with a striking likeness of the painter himself, 

 and an accurate resemblance of the President's seat 

 and northern end of the Athenaeum hall, forming a 

 bold and beautiful back ground. Upon the varying 

 strength of resemblance in the portraits, persons will, 

 of course, differ, but, taken collectively, all beholders 

 will, no doubt, agree in allowing that Mr. Ball has 

 proved himself fully equal to the important task of 

 combining truth of expression with accuracy oi feature. 

 The general aspect of the picture is rich and harmoni- 

 ous; nor need we hesitate to affirm, that Mr. Ball, 

 already far advanced, has made another considerable 

 step in his professional career. 



The existence of the picture is alike flattering to the 

 numerous members of the Plymouth Institution repre- 

 sented, and honorable to its liberal and enlightened 

 proprietor. A good specimen is added to the cata- 

 logue of English art, and great hope excited as to the 

 future progress of the artist. 



