1844.] Chantry's Statue of Sir Thomas Munro. 175 



years after that period, from which time till its embarkation ift 

 April 1838, it may be said to have occupied the chief part of 

 his time and attention. The great object of Sir Francis 

 Chantrey in all works of this nature is to combine simplicity 

 in the outline and drapery with dignity in the attitude and 

 expression : it is only necessary to look at the figure recently 

 erected on the island to be satisfied as to how completely he 

 has here succeeded in attaining this happy union. 



The horse may be looked upon rather as the Artist's beau 

 ideal of the animal than as the representation of any parti- 

 cular species, although no doubt the Arab blood \a ill be found 

 to prevail in its composition, and fortunately so when we 

 consider the country where it was to find its final resting 

 place. The pains which Sir Francis took with this part of his 

 task are almost incredible ; the whole of the royal stud - then 

 in all its glory — was submitted individually to his inspection 

 —he consulted the best veterinarians — and finally kept it in 

 the model for a space of nearly four years, in order that 

 he might be able to avail himself of any improvements which 

 time or reflection might suggest. The preserving of the clay 

 for so long a period in a proper state of moisture was alone a 

 work of no ordinary difficulty and anxiety, for unless the great- 

 est care be taken, it is sure to bake dry in summer and freeze 

 hard in winter, either of which by distorting the form will in 

 one day ruin the labour of months. When at last however he 

 was completely satisfied, a mould was taken in plaster of 

 Paris, and a cast in the same material took the place of the 

 enormous mass of clay which was immediately broken up to 

 be moulded into other forms. 



The horse being thus fixed in somewhat more permanent 

 materials, Chantrey then proceeded to the figure of the rider, 

 which had to be gathered from the most incongruous sources — 

 the chief of which was the admirable portrait by Sir Martin Ar~ 



