1805.] 
invidious character of the artift recently 
intreduced in the Supplement to the laft 
edition of Pilkington’s Diétionary of Pain- 
ters, and written by aR. A. who obferves, 
that ‘it is dificult to fay what he would 
have excelléd im at a more advanced pe- 
riod, who was unrivailed in nothing at the 
meridian of his powers; that his ftyle 
was neither idéai nor that of genial na- 
ture; that he was the Hayman Reforma- 
tor of his day, &c. &c. &c.”’ 
Thete general affertions difplay more 
acrimony than judgment, and if it were 
juftifisble to indulge them, might be made 
with malign reference to the characterittic 
manner: of the moft diftinguifhed painters. 
What would the writer of the above re- 
marks on Mortimer, think of a criticifm 
on himfelf, where it was fait that his 
pictures were frequently filled with inco- 
herent monfte:s, fo capricious, that it 
would be very difficult to determine whe- 
ther his works were in the higlicit degree 
fublime, or emineatly ridiculous ? 
The capital pictures here exhibited are 
- numerous, and we fhall in our next enter 
into a more particular examination of ma- 
ny of them. We have been informed that 
13 were fold the firft week the exhibition 
opened. The rooms are elegantly fitted 
up, but the wails are covered with a pa- 
per of the brighteft and moft vivid fcarlet, 
which fatigues and difrefles the eye. It 
has alfo a bad effect on many of the pic- 
tures, as it overpowers the brighteit reds, 
and will, we are apprehenfive, have this 
bad confequence ; if the artifts raife the 
tone of their colouring to bear up againk 
the glare of the wails, they can only look 
well in that place. In any {cber coloured 
room they will appear to be overcharged 
and extravagant. 
Meffis. Boydell have  publithed the 
fupplementary number to their fplendid 
edition of Shakefpeare; and it contains 
two admirable full length Portraits of their 
Majefties, from the Pidiures painted by Sir 
Wm. Beechey, and in his Majefty’s Collec- 
tion. ‘The King, is engraved by Thomas 
Ryder, and Thomas Ryder, jun. and the 
Queen, by Benjamin Smith. 
Othello, AG 5, Scene 2d. painted by F. Boydell, 
Ejq. and engraved by Wm. Lerey. 
Midfummer Night's Dream, A& 4, Scene 1. 
painted by H. Fufeli, R. A. and engraved by 
Thomas Ryder, and Thomas Ryder, jun. 
Imogen; Cymbeline, AG 3, Scene 4, painted by 
_ R. Weftall, R. A. and engraved by T. Gau- 
gain. 
Of the prints to this magnificent and 
national work we have oftea fpoken ; fuf- 
Monruty Mas. No. 140. 
Monthly Retrofpest of the Fine-Arts. 
57 
fice it to fay, that thefe are worthy of the 
preceding numbers. ‘The laft named, from 
Weftall, is a very pleafing fingle figure of 
Imogen, in boy’s cloaths, as fhe is enter- 
ing the cave ; the very interefting moment 
is thus beautifully deferibed ‘by the poet 
of nature—IMOGEN. ‘ No anfwer-~ 
then Illenter. Beft draw my {word, and 
if my enemy but fear the fword like me, 
he'll fcarcely look on’t.”"—Enters the cave. 
Portrait of Admiral Lord Nelfon, from a Piéture 
in the Poffeffion of bis Royal Highnefs the Prince 
of Wales, to whom this Print is, with permife 
Sion, dedicated. I. Hoppner, R. A. Portrait 
Painter to the Prince, pinxt. €. Turner, 
Sculpt. Publifbed by Coluaghi, Cock{pur-fireet. 
We in our Retrofpeét for January no- 
ticed, with the approbation it well de- 
ferved, a portrait of cur lamented Ad- 
miral, publifhea for Colnaghi, and copied 
from a picture painted by Hoppner. This, 
as wellas that, deferves, ard we dare fay 
will obtain, the attention and encourage- 
ment of the public. It is in mezzotinto, 
and itis a very fpirited performance, and, 
confidered as a whole, has a forcible 
effect. 
We obferved at the fame publither’s, 
many foreign portraits of remarkable cha- 
racters, who at this molt eventful pericd 
engrofs much attention on the Continent, 
and muft be objetts of great curiofity to 
fuch as wifh to infpeét the phyfiognomical 
charaéteriftics of eminent men, or the pre- 
fent ftate of the arts in other countries. 
A Portrait of Admiral Lord Collingwood, dedi« 
cated, with permiffion, tothe Right Hon. Lady 
Collingwood; engraved by Mr. Say, from the 
original Portrait in ber poffeffion. Publifeed 
by Clay and Scriven, Ludgate- bill. 
The prefent age abounds with heroes, 
and we rejoice to fee that their counte- 
nances are delineated, engraved, and dif 
eminated, as an honour to their country, 
and as. examples for the imitation of pofte- 
rity. 
This is a very good portrait, and ad- 
mitted by Lady Collingwood, and his 
Lordfhip’s friends, to be a very ftriking 
refemblance. As it will unqueltionably 
be confidered as a proper companion prist 
to Lord Nelfon, it is engraved in the fame 
fize as his Lordthip’s portraits, by Sir W. 
Beechey, Abbot, &c. and it is very well 
engraved, 
Mr Ackerman continues his very ufe- 
ful publications. No. 3, of Chalk Heads, 
and No. 4, of Rudiments of Cattle, fo 
admirably calculated for the ufe of thofe 
who are learning to draw, have made their 
appearance. The firfi, contains Glyce- 
my,5 Yiu," 
