_ 
Bog 
tunity of secing a case of unsightly and: 
unwieldy corpuience, which appeared 
gradually to have accumulated in conse- 
quence of gross Teediiig, connected with 
a life of sluggish inactivity: from an ig- 
noble indulgence in habits of repletion 
and repose, this patient appears in dan- 
Afonthly Retrospect of the Fine Aris. 
[Jan. 1; 
ger of ultiniately sinking under the weight 
of abdominal oppression : 
—~ ille horridus alter 
Desidia, latamque trahens inglorius alyum. 
: avy J. Reipg 
Grenville-street, Brunswick-square, 
December 26, 1818. 
MONTHLY RETROSPECT or tae FINE ARTS. 
The Use of all New Prints, Communications of Articles of Intelligence, $c. aré 
requested under coveR to the Care of the Publisher. 
: — a 
Zhe British Gallery of Engrauings, with some 
Account of each Pictures anda Life of the 
Artist. By Edward Forster, AM. FR.S, 
and §.. No, VII. 
HIS Number of Mr. Forster’s ele- 
gant work contains the Flemish 
Family, by Adrian Ostade, engraved by 
J. Fitler, A.R.A, The Infant Hercules, 
by Sir Joshua Reynolds, engraved by 
C. Heath. A Landscape, by Claude, 
engraved by Middiman and Pye. And 
the Death of Hippolitus, by Rubens, 
engraved by Anker Smith, A.R.A. The 
Flemish Family is a well-known picture, 
anda faverable specimen of the talents of 
Ostade. It was formerly in the collection 
of the Duke de Praslin, and has been 
extremely well engraved by a French 
artist. Mr. Fittler has finished his 
plate with a good deal of effect and 
colour, but it 1s not sufficiently delicate 
in its texture for a work of this highty 
finishing painter. The Infant Hercules 
is a delightful little print, and combines 
freedom of stroke with truth of represen- 
tation. The great picture which the in- 
jmitable Sir Joshua Reynolds painted of 
this subject, (which we are sorry to learn 
from Mr. Forster is suffering from neglect 
and damp) is only knewn to the ama- 
teurs of this country by a mezzotinto 
print, the original being at St. Peters- 
burgh. It contains the figures of Alcme- 
na, Amphitrion, and the Servants, who 
are described as entering the apartment 
in which the infant god was cradled. 
The present picture, on the contrary, is si- 
Jar to the one by Annibale Carracci, in 
the gallery of the Napoleon Museum, at 
Paris, and consists simply of one figure, 
the child, witha serpent in each band ; but 
in a style and vigour of imagination far 
superier to the Bolognese. He has here 
einbodied the elements, the very germ as 
it were, of the Farnese hero; he who 
“< stretched out his arms to clasp 
The scaly monsters in his iron grasp 3 
. 
E Fad F a 
a) meen 
Fast in each hand their yenomed jaws he 
prest SN 
Of the curst serpents, which even gods 
detest 5 
Their circling spires, in many a dreadful fold, 
Around the slow-hegotten babe they roll’d ; 
The babe unweaned, yet ignorant of fear, 
Who never uttered cry, nor shed a tear.” 
24th Idyllium of Theocritus, Fawkes’s 
, - ‘Branslation. 
Cool settied indignation is seated on 
the brow of the beautiful boy; and the 
whole is an additional prgof (if such 
could now be wanting) of the superier 
talents of Reynolds for truth and subli.’ 
mity of expression, Neither should the 
engraver (the younger Mr. Heath,) be 
passed without his share of well-deserved 
praise. The touch, mauner, and free- 
dom of outline, so characteristic of the 
painter’s style, 1s admirably given, par- 
ticularly the lights, shades, and reflexes, 
of the flesh. The accessories are 
forcihl y engraved, and have a depth and 
colour equal to a mezzotinto, with all 
the higher beauties of stroke engraving ; 
and 1s certainly a first-rate print. The 
Landscape, by Middimanand Pye, is des 
licately handled, and very Claudish in 
effect. We should like to see these artists 
employed on a picture of Wilson’s or: 
Turner’s, whose subjects are. so much 
more full and interesting. The Death of 
Hippolitus, is a grand compositiun, one 
‘of the greatest of the master’s, and is a 
real treasure to its noble possessor, (the 
Duke of Bedford.) It shows the power 
and art of Rubens, equal to any thing, 
after his magnificent Conversion of Str, 
Paul, and perhaps his Descent from the 
Cross, that we have of this master. Mr, 
Smith has executed his task with fidelity 
and care, and hereby has’ added a new 
wreath of honeur to his name. The 
whole of the Number is equal to any of 
the former, and is one of those usefu] 
* : “ 
and splendid works which must deserve 
success, | 
INTELLIGENCE, 
th 
