280 MEMOIRS OF 



the classic beauties of M. Cuvier's head and fea- 

 tures (which, in fact, were remarkable), and, by 

 dwelling with too much stress on these, he has 

 lost sight of the benignity of the countenance.* 

 The bronze bas relief, taken from the bust, of 

 course possesses the same fliults. Mr. Pickers- 

 gilPs portrait is decidedly the most perfect of 

 all : it is there possible to form a correct notion 

 of the sharply defined features ; the eyes that so 

 well spoke the serious and great thoughts within, 

 that rose above this world ; the mouth, and the 

 carriage of the head. To use Mr. Pickersgill's 

 own words, he tried *' to catch the essence of 

 the man," and his skill has proved adequate to 

 the great task before him.t 



* Since writing the above, I have seen the bust worked in 

 French marble, after the same model, and given to Madame 

 Cuvier by this generous and public-spirited artist. It is an 

 improvement on that cast in bronze, and now stands on a pe- 

 destal in the room, and on the very spot where the mortal 

 remains of the great original were laid till they were removed 

 for ever. 



t I cannot quit this subject entirely, without placing 

 Mr. Pickersgill in a still more admirable light than in his pro- 

 fession of artist. Feeling the value of the above-mentioned 

 portrait, after she lost her noble husband, Madame Cuvier was 

 naturally desirous of possessing a copy of it, from the hands 

 which had so well known how to execute the first. I was re- 

 quested to negotiate concerning the possibility of sacrifice of 

 time, price, &c.; and the result was, that Mr. Pickersgill him- 

 self made the wished-for copy, which was not inferior to the 



