56 SIR EDWIN LANDSEER, R.A. 



awhile from their labours ; the sheep have no desire to go astray, and therefore the 

 dog, having no duty to perform, has laid himself down to sleep. The most striking 

 passage of poetical sentiment in the whole picture is the old mortar, rich with the 

 variegated tints of rust, from the mouth of which a lamb — always an emblem of 

 "Peace" — is nibbling some blades of grass that have grown therein. This impressive 

 incident in the composition reminds one of Samson's riddle — •• Out of the eater came 

 forth meat, and out of the strong came forth sweetness :" that which for many years 

 had served to take away life, has now become, indirectly, a help to sustain it : " it shall 

 neither hurt nor destroy any more." 



Passing from the animals to the figures it may be remarked that their occupation 

 in no way disturbs the serenity of the other portions of the composition. A young 

 mother and her child have seated themselves on the cliff, and the former, like one 

 thrifty of her time, has brought a work-basket with her, and is now engaged in 

 winding a skein of thread held by the child. The boy, probably the care-taker of the 

 sheep and goats, or, with equal probability, the driver of some goat-cart — not seen in 

 the picture, but signified by the harness on the goats — which has borne the little girl 

 up to the spot where we see her, has joined himself to the others, and is watching 

 their proceedings with apparent interest. 



The drawing and painting of the animals are in the artist's most successful 

 manner; the caparisons of the goats supply bits of brilliant colour, and the fleeces of 

 the sheep would satisfy the most enthusiastic admirer of «' South-down " wool ; while 

 the execution of the entire work is distinguished, perhaps more than usual, by the 

 broad and unctuous style of the painter. 



The picture, and its companion, "War," which will be referred to presently form 

 part of the Vernon Collection in the National Galleiy. It may be remarked that both 

 works have been finely engraved by Mr. T. L. Atkinson, and on a large scale, for 

 Messrs. Graves and Co. 



In 1864 Landseer exhibited at the British Institution "Well-bred Setters" an 

 aristocratic canine group, showing in each component member of it their high pedigree 

 good traming, and comely appearance ; such dogs are to be found only where their 

 owners are also well-bred. The picture is executed with exceeding delicacy and soft- 

 ness of manner. So also is the " Piper and Pair of Nutcrackers," one of four pictures 

 contributed by the artist to the Academy exhibition of the same year. The title is 



tT'bf "t1"1"-' "'"'''"' ""^ ^"P'^"^*^°" ^^"^^^^ '^^ -bject almost unin- 

 telhgib le. The "piper" is a splendid bullfinch, which is singing L sweetest song 

 b fore two squirrels, the pair of "nutcrackers;" all three in the midst of a mass of 

 foliage The charm of this picture is the exquisite softness of texture given to the 

 pretty trio. The canvas is comparatively small, that is, it is cabinet-sizef but it wa 

 currently reported, at the time, that Mr. Huth. who purchased it, paid no less a sum 



