LANDSEER A SCULPTOR. 



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ANDSEER turning sculptor!" Such was the incredulous remark which 

 others, no doubt, equally with myself, heard in Art^society, when it 

 was currently reported that the painter had received a commission to 

 model the lions for the Nelson column in Trafalgar Square. Had 

 , the order been for a picture or pictures of the "king of beasts," no 

 one would have ventured to question its propriety; but few thought that the hand 

 which had such mastery over the pencil could be in any degree as effective in working 

 the clay into a "thing of life." Men seem to have forgotten that Michael Angelo 

 and other great painters of olden time were also famous as sculptors. 



A few words on the history of the Nelson Column, which Landseer may be said to 

 have completed, will scarcely be out of place here, although the story is anything but 

 creditable to the country in connection with our national monuments and memorials. 



Considerably more than thirty years had passed from the date of the Battle of 

 Trafalgar before any efforts appear to have been made to raise an out-door memorial in 

 honour of our great naral commander; but about the year 1838 the matter was taken 

 in hand, a committee formed, and subscriptions were collected; the sum of ;^30,ooo being 

 the amount the committee considered sufficient for the purpose. Architects and 

 sculptors were invited to send in designs for the work, which it was understood the 

 Government would allow to be erected in the then new Trafalgar Square. Of the 

 large number of designs forwarded in answer to the invitation, that selected was a lofty 

 Corinthian column, by Mr. Railton, an architect. Objections were taken to the 

 award, and a second competition was called for, and was amply responded to; but 

 Mr. Railton, who in the interim had made some alterations in his first design, was 

 again successful, and in due time the column was erected The statue of Nelson, made 



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