JO Sm EDWIN LANDSEER. R.A. 



" Refreshment," and Mr. McLean/ 800, with a share of the profits arising out of the 

 sale of the engraving, for the copyright of " The Stag at Bay." 



The only picture exhibited by Landseer in 1847, besides the "Van Amburgh 

 with his Animals" — the large replica for the Duke of Wellington — ^which has been 

 already spoken of, was "The Drive — Shooting Deer on the Pass — Scene in the Black 

 Mount, Glen Urchy Forest." It is a picture of considerable dimensions, showing an 

 extent of wild and rugged mountainous scenery, with two figures crouched in a rocky 

 nook in the foreground : they are accompanied by two deerhounds, which a brawny 

 Highlander is holding back with a vigorous hand. On the precipitous side of one of 

 the mountains a herd of deer, "on the pass," is scattered, for the rifle of the sportsman 

 has already brought down a noble stag and has carried alarm among the rest. A 

 dense Scotch mist veils the mountain on the right of the composition ; and beneath is, 

 a break, showing a beautiful play of light on and oposite mountain. The picture is 

 generally low in tone and colour, but it everywhere manifests the hand of the skilful 

 painter. The work has been engraved on a large scale, In 1855 a small study made 

 for this picture was sold, with a portion of the collection of Mr. Birch, of Birmingham, 

 for 780 guineas. 



In 1846 was published an engraving, by J. Burnet, of "The Hawk-Trainer." 

 I cannot ascertain whether the picture was ever exhibited, but it was the property of 

 the then Dowager Countess of Essex. The subject is a charming reminiscence 

 of the olden time ; a saddled horse, a couple of dogs, a boy holding the latter, and 

 a mounted falconer with a hawk on his hand make up the composition. 



" The Death of the Stag," of which an engraving is introduced here, was exhibited 

 at the Royal Academy in 1833, under the title of " Deer and Hounds in a Torrent." 

 It belongs to the Vernon collection, and is in the National Gallery under the title of "The 

 Hunted Stag." Were one inclined to write a homily upon the sufferings of animals 

 which man makes subservient to his pastime, a more appropriate text could scarcely be 

 found than is supplied by this picture, beautiful though it is as a work of art ; and 

 however unwilling one may be to introduce any remark that savours of over-sensi- 

 bility, or that would cast a shadow over the colouring of a fine painting, it is utterly 

 impossible to comment upon a work of such a character as this without some allusion 

 to its subject-matter, and the feeling to which it must naturally give rise. The 

 very first idea it suggests to the mind is that of sympathy with the noble creature 

 borne headlong over the foaming waters and amid sharp -edged rocks by the strength 

 of the torrent, and the fierce, firm grip of his assailants. We should admire the animal 

 could we see him with head erect and his limbs in full stretch, bounding from crag to 

 crag, or away over the level moorland, even though we know the hounds are hurrying 

 onwards, and may possibly soon fasten on his broad haunches. There is still, however, 

 in such a situation some chance of escape for him in the actual chase, some probability 



