SERVICE FOIl THE EMPRESS OF RUSSIA. 211 



Wedgwood was about this time honoured by receiving from 

 the Empress Catherine of Russia a commission of extra- 

 ordinary magnitude. He was directed to make a very large 

 service of Queen's ware for her Majesty's use, and to " paint 

 in black enamel upon each piece a different view of the palaces, 

 seats of the nobility, and other remarkable places in this 

 kingdom. Upon every piece there was also to be painted 

 the image of a green toad or frog, as is elsewhere stated. 

 He was very unwilling to disfigure the service with this 

 reptile, but was told it was not to be dispensed with, because 

 the ware was intended for the use of a palace that bore its 

 name. The idea of such a service was well worthy the mind 

 of a sovereign, but the undertaking seemed a great one for 

 the powers of an individual manufacturer. The number of 

 views necessary, to avoid a repetition of the same subjects, 

 was about twelve hundred, and a great proportion of them 

 were original sketches. He spent three years in making 

 the collection and painting the views upon the pieces of this 

 service, with all the correctness of design and drawing that 

 is necessary to a good picture. The Empress, we have been 

 told, was entirely satisfied with the execution of this work ; 

 and no doubt it conveyed to her mind a pretty just sentiment 

 of our national splendour, ingenuity, and character." 



A number of very ingenious artists having been got 

 together for completing this service, Mr. Wedgwood was 

 very unwilling to part with them, and " determined to try 

 whether works of such expense would succeed upon his 

 wares, and with this view he continued to employ them 

 some time afterwards. It is believed, however, that their 

 productions of this kind, though unexceptionable in point of 

 merit, have never found a purchaser, even when offered 

 at the exact price that the artists were paid for the painting. 

 The matter was still EARTHENWARE, and was neglected when 

 its modest simple garb was changed for the plumes which 

 seemed more properly to belong to its superior porcelain. 

 This was not the only occasion that brought so mortifying 

 a reflection to the mind of our potter, and induced him 



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