Portrait of Goethe 



259 



usually broad ; eyes deeply set with overhanging brows ; nose 

 straight, of good size ; lips well curved, moderately full ; ears 

 small and set high. 



Accessories. — A white neck-tie is the only part of the dress 

 to suggest a preacher, the rest indicates only an unassuming 

 English gentleman of the early nineteenth century, well 

 dressed but quite careless of personal adornment. 



Diagnosis. — Not improbably of Scandinavian stock. It is 

 a face more likely to be met with in Norway or Denmark 

 than in Germany, and in the eastern counties of England than 

 in Wales or Ireland. A self-contained, somewhat unsocial, 

 very thoughtful man. Not humorous and not ready of speech. 1 



PORTRAIT OF GOETHE. 

 (The Frontispiece for September.) 



Our Frontispiece was a portrait of Goethe, when a young 

 man. It is not one which is very commonly given and may 

 possibly have escaped recognition by many well accustomed 

 to others. Most of the others represent him when well 

 advanced in life. We selected this because it allows, perhaps 

 better than any other, of the appreciation of his features. As age 

 advances, what we have included under the term expression 

 often overlays and conceals the true lineaments. These are 

 better seen in the young adult face. It is, of course, impor- 

 tant to compare the face of youth with those of more advanced 

 years. The portraits of Goethe are very numerous, and 

 although many of them differ at first sight very remarkably 

 from the one which we have selected, careful comparison will, 



1 Only one to whom this portrait has been shown has ventured any guess 

 as to who is represented, and suggested Faraday. All have agreed that it is 

 a thoughtful but rather melancholy face, but one to inspire trust. It has 

 been thought to be like that of Charles Lamb. 



