HER MAJESTY AT OSBORNE IN 1866. gi 



rapid brush the shadows, and then touched in with delicate and playful pencil the top- 

 most hairs which catch the highest lights. This picture will be remembered in future 

 years as a work completed with more than usual deliberation. The colour is not 

 fortunate ; it is a little too dun and dead." 



In the following year he contributed five pictures to the Academy, — " Mare and 

 Foal — Indian Tent, &c.," " Lady Godiva's Prayer," " Odds and Ends — Trophy for a 

 Hall," " The Chace," and " Stag at Bay," the last a large drawing in crayons. None 

 of these works call for particular notice, except the " Lady Godiva " picture, which was 

 introduced to the spectator by the following quotation : — •* Leofric, Earl of Murcia, had 

 imposed such heavy taxes on the citizens of Coventry, that his lady, Godiva, moved by 

 their entreaties, so much importuned her lord to remit them, that he consented on 

 condition she would ride naked through the city at mid-day. This condition humanity 

 induced her to accept." The picture added nothing to the artist's reputation; the 

 subject was altogether out of his line, and even had it been within his legitimate range, 

 it is treated in a manner by no means in accordance with good taste. 



At the sale, in 1866, of the pictures belonging to Mr. Flatou, two small works by 

 Landseer were included ; one, called " No Escape," was bought by Mr. Lewis for 

 ;^i3i; the other, a study for the shepherd in the ''Highland Drovers," bought by 

 Mr. Halliday for ^102. The former appears to have subsequently got again into 

 Mr. Flatou' s possession, for after his death it appeared in the catalogue of his stock 

 sold, by Messrs. Christie, in 1868, when it realised but 100 guineas; Mr. Leatham 

 being the purchaser. 



The death of Sir Charles L. Eastlake at the close of 1865 left vacant the 

 President's chair in the Royal Academy. The members found some little difficulty 

 in finding a suitable successor : the post was offered, it was publicly reported, to 

 D. Maclise, who declined it ; it was then proposed to Landseer, who accepted it, and 

 his name as President was actually, I heard, enrolled on the books of the Academy ; a 

 week's consideration, however, of the onerous duties connected with the position, 

 induced him to recall his consent, and Mr., now Sir, Francis Grant was elected. 



There was a painting by Landseer in the Academy exhibition of 1867, which drew 

 towards it very many sympathising spectators. " Her Majesty at Osborne in 1866 " 

 was the first picture of the Queen, beyond a mere portrait, the public had seen since the 

 irreparable loss both she and the nation sustained by the death of the Prince Consort. 

 Her Majesty is represented on horseback, nearly in front of Osborne House, reading : 

 some letters brought to her by an attendant. Seated on a bench at a short distance is 

 one of the ladies in waiting. I had an opportunity of seeing this large picture again 

 a year or two ago, and it appeared to have lost much of its colour, though originally 

 it could not be called brilliant. 



Two other pictures, respectively entitled " Deer of Chillingham Park, Northumber- 



R 



