7 
516 
This proposition was rejected, on 
the ground that such ornaments were 
inconsistent with the gonius of the 
protestant religion. Disappointed 
in this, Mr. Barry offered, by him- 
self, to adorn the great room of the 
society of arts with a series of alle- 
gorical paintings applicable to the 
purposes. of that society. The two 
largest pictures are 42 feet each in 
length ; and the work is altogether, 
perhaps, the most considerable that 
ever was. undertaken by any single 
artist of his own motion, or without 
the hope of reward. ‘The work 
was seven years in executing, and 
was exhibited at the room in the 
Adelphi in the year 1783 and 1784, 
for his benefit, and he published an 
octavo volume, explanatory of the 
series. He published, 1793, a let- 
ter to the above society, ‘* the ob- 
ject of which was to publish a few 
personal explanations, to advertise 
engravings of the above-mentioned 
pictures, and to throw together some 
admirable thoughts on that branch 
of public instruction which regards 
the influence of religion and of the 
arts on human culture and national 
glory.”” Besides these pieces, Mr. 
B. published a ¢ Ietter to the Dilet- 
tanti Society,” printed in the sup. 
plement to the new edition of Pil- 
kington’s Dictionary of Painters, 
1798, chiefly on the subject of em- 
piricism in  picture-cleaning, and 
giving an account of an excellent 
practice, relative to the perservation 
of pictures, which he found in use 
at Rome. In Mr B’s productions, 
as well of the pencil as of the pen, 
there are: generally to be found cer- 
tain eccentricities, bothin sentiment 
and expression; but he has long 
been known to the public, not only 
as a practical painter of. the first 
merit, distinguished by the classical 
ANNUAL REGISTER, 1806. 
taste and antique purity of his de- - 
signs, but also as a literary theorist, 
important for his profound know-~ 
ledge of art, and respectable for the 
lofty merit which he ever laboured 
to inculcate as the severe duty of 
artists, and the highest embellishment 
of their productions, Preferring in- 
dependence with’ bread and water . 
to the most splendid appointment 
associated with a control of the 
will of its possessor, he so effectu- 
ally circumscribed his wants, that 
few men could support themselves 
on so little. A professed republi- 
can in principle, he felt no concern 
to disguise his sentiments; he is » 
said, even in public lectures on a 
royal foundation, to descant fre- 
quently with admiration on the en- 
couragement afforded the fine arts 
under a republican compared with a 
monarchical government. ‘This li- 
cence. frequently alarmed _ his 
brethren of the Royal Academy ; 
nor did he stop here, but scruti- 
nized, and often severely censured, 
their conduct in the affairs of the , 
institution.”” See memoirs of living 
authors, second edition. Mr. Barry 
was some years professor of paint- 
ing to the royal academy ; and had 
very lately undertaken to paint a 
whole-length portrait of the late la- 
mented lord Nelson, for the society 
of arts. 
24th. At Romely, co. Derby, Dr. 
Thomas Gisbone, F. R. S. senior 
fellow of St. John’s college, Cam- 
bridge; B.A. 1747, M. A. 1751, 
M. D. 1758; physician to the 
king ; afellew, and for somé years 
president, of the college of physi- 
cians. 
Suddenly, Mrs. Alice Mayor, 
who had dined with Mrs. Wilsdon, 
in the Islington road, and, while 
drinking tea, some jocular conver. . 
sation 
2 j 
