1809. ] 
Ce6t ) 
MONTHLY RETROSPECT OF THE FINE ARTS. 
The Use of all New Prints, and Communications of Articles of Intelligence, arevre- 
guested, under covER to the Care of the Publisher. 
Portrait of Robert Waithman, Esq. S.Med- 
ley pinxit. E.Scriven sculpt. Published by 
Clay and Scriven, Ludgate Hill. 
P i ‘O the admirers of this gentleman, 
cle 
who are not confined to a small cir- 
, this will prove acceptable, as a faith- 
ful representation of the original. 
The Holy Bible, with Notes by the Rev. 
J. Hewlet, B.D. embellished with Engrav- 
ings by the first Artists, from the most ad- 
mired Productions of the great Masters of 
the various Schools of Painting. 
There have been many Bibles publish- 
ed with graphical illustrations m_ the 
various countries of Europe, and they 
have met with much success. In our 
own time and country, that of Macklin 
has been begun and carried on with con- 
siderable splendour, but its high price 
renders it unlikely to be very much cir- 
culated, except among the opulent mem- 
bers of the community. Other objecti- 
ons also have been made to it, in regard 
to the unequal merit of the designs; but as 
this is a charge to which every such work 
must be liable, it need not be here inves- 
tigated. Mr. Hewlet’s Bible, in addition 
to other advantages not immediately re- 
levant to the subject of the Arts, proposes 
to give, at the most moderate price, in 
every monthly part, six engravings by 
British artists of eminence, from pictures 
of established reputation, of the ancient 
school, on biblical subjects. The first 
part, or number, is highly deserving of 
consideration, and happy will it be for 
the credit of English engraving, if it shall 
be surpassed in merit by the succeeding 
ones. The cheapness and excellence of 
French prints was formerly become almost 
proverbial, but the present work bids fair 
to rival them in both points. 
The propriety of giving engravings from 
old masters, instead of employing our 
contemporaries, (whether they would 
or could produce better pictures,) shall 
not in this place be contended for; 
suilice it to say, that the work answers its 
promise, and that the origin als, here chosen 
to be engraved from, are of established 
reputation. ‘The sound of great names, 
however, should not preclude examina- 
tion: it may therefore be fay to consider 
each picture without relation to the names 
of the respective painters, and as if ft 
had been the work of a living artist. 
1, The Murder of Abel. Gen.4, v.8. Paints 
ed by Andrea Sacchi. Engraved by J. Tay- 
lor. 
This picture is one of the most perfect 
works of art. The subject was never 
more effectively told. Itis not Cain mur- 
dering Abel, when the passion of exces- 
sive anger would have predominated, and 
impressed the spectator with the ordinary 
feelings of terror, but it is that awful mo- 
ment after the murder of his brother, 
when conviction flashes on the mind of 
Cain of the enormity of his guilt. He 
looks up to offended Heaven with fear 
and despair. From the bursting cloud the 
voice of divine justice dooms him to pu- 
nishment, “ to be a fugitive and a vaga- 
bond in the earth;” and the murderer 
has already begun his flight. Holy His- 
tory does not say with what weapon he 
effected his fratricide; and the painter, 
unwilling to obtrude in any circumstance 
on the sacred text, has, therefore. con- 
cealed the hand which may be supposed 
to hold the bloody mstrument. The dead 
body of Abel is of a beautiful form, cor- 
rectly drawn, and skilfully fore-shortened. 
The solemn and gloomy back-ground is 
admirably brought in aid of the general 
effect of the subject. 
Taylor’s excellent engraving of this 
picture, equally studied and faithful to 
the original in every part, has obtained 
for him an additional wreath of credit. 
2. The Finding of Moses, Exod. 2, v.5 & 6. 
Painted by Nicolo Poussin. Engraved by 
iittler. 
The painter has chosen the instant 
when the child is taken from the water, 
and laid at the feet of the princess, one of 
whose female attendants is taking him 
from the man who is still in the water. 
The majestic simplicity of the Princess 
Thermeutis is admirably represented; 
her height and commanding appearance 
are well contrasted with that of her at- 
tendants. In the eagerness displayed in 
the attitude of the young woman, who is 
receiving the child, we recognize the 
emotions which would naturally agitate 
the sister of Moses, who appears gladly 
to accept the care of her usfant brother. 
; Thus 
