In the rude block aspiring talent sees
Its patron’s face, and hews it out with ease;
Ere fail’d the royal breath, the marble breath’d,
And lives to be by gratitude enwreath’d.
*
Towards the close of the year 1825, the duke of York commenced to sit
for this bust at his late residence in the Stable-yard, St. James’s;
and, in the summer of 1826, continued to give sittings, till its final
completion, at the artist’s house, in Dean-street, Soho. The marble was
then removed, for exhibition, to the Royal Academy, and from thence sent
home to his royal highness, at Rutland-house. The duke and his royal
sister, the princess Sophia, were equally delighted with the true and
spirited likeness, and gratified by its possession, as a work of art.
The duke of York, on giving his orders to Mr. Behnes, left entirely to
him the arrangement of the figure. With great judgment, and in reference
to his royal highness’s distinguished station, the artist has placed
armour on the body, and thrown a military cloak over the shoulders.
This judicious combination of costume imparts simplicity and breadth to
the bust, and assists the manly dignity of the head. The duke’s fine
open features bear the frank and good-natured expression they constantly
wore in life: the resemblance being minutely faithful, is as just to his
royal highness’s exalted and benevolent character, as it is creditable
to Mr. Behnes’s execution. The present engraving is a hasty sketch of
its general appearance. His royal highness kindly permitted Mr. Behnes
to take casts from the sculpture. Of the many, therefore, who
experienced the duke of York’s friendship or favour, any one who desires
to hold his royal highness’s person in remembrance, has an opportunity
of obtaining a fac-simile of the original bust, which is as large as
life.
Mr. Behnes was the last artist to whom the duke sat, and, consequently,
this is his last likeness. The marble was in the possession of his royal
highness during his long illness, and to the moment of his death, in
Arlington-street. Its final destination will be appropriated by those to
whom he was most attached, and on whom the disposition of such a
memorial necessarily devolves.
* * * * *
To the ample accounts of the duke of York in the different journals, the
_Table Book_ brings together a few particulars omitted to be collected,
preceded by a few notices respecting his royal highness’s title, a
correct list of all the dukes of York from their origin, and, first,
with an interesting paper by a gentleman who favoured the _Every-Day
Book_ with some valuable genealogical communications.
* * * * *