458 
with a frefh eye, he faw much to alter, 
and repainted.many parts of it; and, not 
recollecting that it been formerly exhibit- 
ed, fent it a fecond time, but without any 
attempt to obliterate the date which had 
been originally inferted. Some of the aca- 
demicians appear to have had a better me- 
mory than their Prefident ; they objected 
to it; and it was accordingly withdrawn. 
We have feen the picture, and think it 
ranks among the beft the Prefident ever 
painted; and looking at many things with 
which the walls of the Royal Academy 
are now covered ; /eeing many things we 
do fee, and remembering what we have 
feen; we regret that any old law fhould 
have prevented its admiflicn. 
The following ftatements appeared in 
one of the daily papers: ‘ The members 
of the General Affembly, in purfuance ofa 
notice from the Prefident, met on Tuefday 
the 3d of May, for the purpofe of framing 
a teft for the Council. This ftrange pro- 
poial, however, which had originated in 
the heat and frenzy of the moment, was 
upon more mature deliberation prudently 
abandoned, The proceedings, were opened 
by Mr. Trefham, in a conciliatory fpeech: 
Sir William Beechey, Mr. Farrington, and 
Mr. Shee, ably fupported the. counfel of 
Mr. Trefham; and we fincerely rejoice, 
and cordially congratulate the Academy, 
that thefe foolith and unworthy difputes 
are now entirely adjufted. 
‘* To the Editor of the Times. 
ce SiR, 
«* T am direéted to requeft you to infert 
in your paper to-morrow the following 
refolution paft at a General Affembly of 
Academicians on Wednefday the 27th of 
April infant. 
I am, Sir, your obedient fervant, 
j. Ricuarps, R.A, Secretary. 
** Refolved unanimoufly, 
“¢ That the General Affembly of Aca- 
demicians, having noticed many anony- 
mous ftatements which have been publith- 
ed, and evidently intended to attach blame 
to the conduét of the Prefident of the 
Royal Academy, on account of a picture 
fent by him for the enfuing exhsbition, 
think it neceffary to declare, that he has 
in no refpeét a&ted with the leaft intention 
to deviate fram the rules and ufages of the 
Academy.” 
In confeguence, of this, or from fome 
other caufes, the Prefident cf the Royal 
Academy, Hiftorical Painter to his Ma- 
jefty, kas only one picture, No. 135, of 
Cupid fleeping on a Bed of Rofes; from 
Anacreon. 
Retrofpedt of the Fine Arts. 
[June 1, 
‘Sir William Beechey, and Mr. Law- 
rence, have five each; Mr. Opie, and Mr. 
Hoppner,, have each of them eight; and 
Mr. Shee has feven. : 
No. 21. The Vifit to the Cottage, or clothing the 
Naked. By F. Opie, R.A 
It is impoffible for any painting by Mr. 
Opie to be deftituteof merit ; but the flark- 
naked child in the front, and the Blacka- 
moor. in the back ground; renders this 
picture local and rather coarfe. ‘ 
The fame gentleman’s Fuliet, <* See bow 
Joe leans her check upon ber band,” is beau- 
tiful in parts; but there is no fufficient 
reafon for turning her face from the fpec-. 
tator, unlefs to difcover fome other beau- 
ty, which is not difplayed here. 
Hobuelia, or the Spell, is well imagined, 
and well painted. 
In No. 57, The Infant Mofes treading on 
Pharaoh's Crown, we have the lame-figure 
who is clothing the naked, in Wo.21. 
His portrait of Lord Stanhope is excel- 
lent. 
Sir William Beechey’s portraits are, 2s 
ufual, very well painted; but not know- 
ing the originals, we can form no other 
judgment of the refemblances than what 
arifes from knowing that his portraits are 
always like the originals. 
No. 22. Pfyche’s Return from the Infernal 
Shades, with the Box of Beauty, Portrait of 
Mifs Grimfione. By Mr. Hoppner. 
This picture is very well imagined, and 
moft admirably painted. The fame may 
be faid of No. 76, Lady Grenville, and the. 
other delineations of this artilt; though we ~ 
think No. 71, A Portrait of Lady E Bligh, 
is fo much in the manner of Sir Jofhua 
Reynolds, that it looks like am imitation 
of him: and, We bate een Reynolds thus 
at fecond-hand. 
Weltall’s drawings, as is invariably the 
cafe, have infinite tafte. ; 
No, 373. Theodafius and Confiantia. 
No. 164. 
Has great merit : it is extremely well 
imagined, and well drawn, and the drape- 
ries, which in fome of this excellent ar- — 
tift’s produS&tions we have thought rather - 
hard, are here eafy, flowing, and natural. 
‘Sapphira difcovering the Murder of ber Hufband. 
Spectator, No. 4gt. 
“¢ It was remarkable that the woman 
who was full of tears and lamentations 
during the whole courfe of her affli¢tion, — 
utiered neither figh nor complaint, but 
fiood fixed with grief at this confumma-— 
tion of her misfortunes.” ied). 
2, This 
SpeGator y 
j if 
