BARON CUVIER, 279 



that ever was seen. The immense portion of 

 brain in that head was remarked by Messrs. Gall 

 and Spurzheim, as beyond all that they had ever 

 beheld ; an opinion which was confirmed after 

 death. His features were remarkably regular 

 and handsome, the nose aquiline, the mouth full 

 of benevolence, the forehead most ample ; but it 

 is impossible for any description to do justice to 

 his eyes. They at once combined intellect, viva- 

 city, archness, and sweetness ; and long before 

 we lost him, I used to watch their elevated ex- 

 pression with a sort of tearfulness, for it did not 

 belong to this world. There are many portraits 

 published of M, Cuvier, formed of various mate- 

 rials ; but, with the exception of the medallion 

 of M, Bovy, the copper medal, the plaster bust, 

 the lithographic print by M. le Meunier, and the 

 oil painting by Mr. Pickersgill, they scarcely 

 convey any just idea of M. Cuvier's expression : 

 in fact, some of the prints are positive cari- 

 catures. The bronze bust, modelled, and so 

 handsomely presented to the Royal Society of 

 London, by the celebrated sculptor, M. David, 

 was made from a cast taken after death. All 

 praise must be given to this bust as a work of 

 art ; but it is very evident that M. David's 

 feelings, as an artist, were most susceptible to 



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