1+ SIR' EDWIN LANDSEER, R.A. 



Stage of human life from infancy to extreme old age. The artist has shown himself a 

 keen observer of the habits of the people whom he here painted, as is evinced by the 

 occupation in which he has busied the presiding matron — that of filling the flagon of 

 one of the wayfarers with the accustomed *' mountain-dew." The eye rests upon the 

 stalwart figure of a drover, whose bulk of thew and muscle is, in appearance, aug- 

 mented by the national plaid he bears so stoutly athwart him : he is a bonnie sample of 

 the neatherd of the North, who so generally excites the wonder of the Southron far within 

 the border-counties. The athletic mould of this man contrasts forcibly with the wasted 

 and feeble grandsire, sitting absorbed in the enjoyment of his pipe, and unmoved by 

 the bustle around him ; perhaps recalling the days when he set forth on similar expedi- 

 tions, and not unthankful that his wearisome pilgrimages have drawn to a close. 

 Nothing in the way of painting can surpass the truth and reality of this aged man, 

 whose eye the lustre of youth has forsaken, and to whose once active limbs an 

 unusually protracted life has brought its inevitable rigidity. The morn, tnough clear, 

 is chill ; so a careful daughter of the clackan is covering the shoulders of the old man, 

 whom it becomes not to be within the cabin upon the momentous occasion of a 

 departure with the herds. There is not a single incident in the whole composition 

 which does not help to develop the story, from the sturdy "topsman," who kisses his 

 infant-child, to the ruffled hen defending her brood from the mischievous gambols of a 

 young puppy. In the distance the " lowing herds" are already on the move, and the 

 eye. is carried into the fading distance of the Grampian range by the extended wavy 

 line of black cattle wending their way to be taken in exchange" for English gold. In 

 front of the cottage the last group of cattle and a stout pony divide the interest of the 

 spectator with the men, women, and children, who have "forgathered" in associa- 

 tion ; among these will be noticed a young drover and his affianced lassie, seated a 

 little apart from the rest; and exchanging words of endearance that must serve each to 

 live upon for some weeks at least. A more inviting picture than this never passed 

 from Landseer's studio into the hands of a collector. 



At a sale of pictures in 1868, by Messrs. Christie and Co., was one entitled, 

 " Rachel reading," by Landseer, and said to have been painted in the year 1835 \ but 

 I cannot find that such a work was ever exhibited : it sold for 190 guineas. This work 

 I presume to be the same as that in the late Mr. Gillott's collection, where it was called 

 " Lady Rachel Russell in the Act of Reading : " Messrs. Agnew bought it for the sura 

 of 285 guineas. 



In the Sheepshanks Collection is the " Twa Dogs," of which an engraving is intro- 

 duced here. It is an early example of the artist's pencil, having been painted in 1822. 

 The picture illustrates Burns' s poetical fable, bearing the same title, in which he 

 describes two dogs conversing about men and their manners. The animals are named 

 respectively Caesar and Luath : the latter, a collie-dog, belonged to the poet, and was 



