ROUT OF COMVS AND HTS BAND. 65 



was first commenced I cannot say, but it was certainly in a very unfinished stale 

 when exhibited; nor did it then seem to be in a condition which any amount of 

 subsequent labour could convert into a thoroughly satisfactory production. 



In " The Doctor's Visit to Poor Relations at the Zoological Gardens," another 

 contribution to the year's exhibition, the painter reverts to that humorous manner of 

 representing the animal tribes which characterises so many of his earlier works. The 

 physician, personified by a large monkey, is soothingly nursing a youngster of the 

 race; while a black adult monkey sits above them, and devours an orange. The 

 grotesque group might almost pass for human beings, from the way in which they are 

 placed on the canvas, as if Landseer intended his picture to be a development of the 

 Darwinian theory. The painting of these animals is marvellously true to nature. His 

 two remaining works — " Deer," and " Lassie " — call for no special remark. 



The," Rout of Comus and his Band " owes its origin to a commission given, about 

 1843, by the Queen and the late Prince Consort to Landseer and several others of the 

 most distinguished artists of that date, to decorate the pavilion In the grounds of 

 Buckingham Palace with fresco-paintings. Landseer selected for illustration a passage 

 from " Comus," a poem that has furnished subjects for numerous works, both of 

 sculpture and painting. The picture, from which the annexed engraving is taken. Is 

 the original finished sketch for the fresco : it passed Into the hands of the late 

 Mr. Jacob Bell, who bequeathed It to the nation, and It Is now at South Kensington. 



The drama or masque of " Comus " was founded on an Incident that happened to 

 the sons and daughter of the Earl of Bridgewater, which Milton worked up Into an 

 imaginative story. The masque was first performed in 1634, at Ludlow Castle, where 

 the Earl then resided. Comus, his dwelling-place and his enchantments, are thus 

 described : — 



" Within the navel of this hideous wood, 

 Immured in cypress-shades, a sorcerer dwells, 

 Of Bacchus and of Circe born, great Comus, 

 Deep skill'd in all his mother's witcheries ; 

 And here to every thirsty wanderer, 

 By sly enchantment gives his baneful cup. 

 With many murmurs mix'd, whose pleasing poison 

 The visage quite transforms of him that drinks, 

 And the inglorious likeness of a beast, 

 Fixes instead, unmoulding reason's mintage 

 Characterised in the face." * * 



The picture, as its title indicates, represents the defeat of Comus, whose enchant- 

 ments have transformed into monsters the unfortunate travellers through the wood m 

 which he has taken up his abode. 



