165--167. Portraits of Worlidge and Mortimer. Painted by themselves.
172. Villa of Maecenas. One of _Wilson's_ most celebrated
compositions, of classic fame.
181. Master's Out, "The Disappointed Dinner Party." _R.W. Buss._ A
scene of cockney mortification humorously treated.--An unlucky Londoner
and his tawdrily-dressed wife, appeared to have toiled up the hill, with
their family of four children, to a friend's cottage, the door of which
is opened by an old housekeeper, with "Master's out," while the host
himself is peeping over the parlour window-blind at the disappointment
of his would-be visitors. The annoyance of the husband at the
inhospitable answer, and the fatigue of his fine wife, are cleverly
managed; while the mischievous pranks of the urchin family among the
borders of the flower-garden remind us of the pleasant "Inconveniences
of a Convenient Distance." The colouring is most objectionable; though
the flowers and fine clothes are very abundant.
194. Falls of Niagara. _Wilson._ A sublime picture of this terrific
wonder of the world.
196. Erzelin Bracciaferro musing over Meduna, slain by him for
disloyalty during his absence in the Holy Land. _Fuseli._ A
composition of touching melancholy, such as none but a master-mind could
approach.
199. The late R.W. Elliston, Esq. One of _Harlow's_ best portraits:
the likeness is admirable, and the tone well accords with Elliston's
unguent, supple expression.
204. Portrait of Dr. Wardrope. _Raeburn._ This is one of the
artist's finest productions: it is clever, manly, and vigorous--painting
to the life, without the flattering unction of varnished canvass. The
fine, broad, bold features of the sitter were excellently adapted to the
artist's peculiar powers.
205. Portrait of Thomson, the Poet. _Hogarth._ The well-known
picture. How fond poets of the last century were of their
_dishabille_ in portraits: they had their day as well as nightcaps.
217. Johnny Gilpin. _Stothard._ This lively composition is well
known, as it deserves to be; but it may not so well be remembered that
the popularity of John Gilpin was founded by a clever lecturer, who
recited the "tale in verse" as part of his entertainment. (_See page
367._) What would an audience of the present day say to such
puerility; though it would be certainly more rational than people
listening to a French play, or an Italian or German opera, not a line of
which they understand.
229. Portrait of R.B. Sheridan. The well-known picture, by
_Reynolds_, whence is engraved the Frontispiece to Moore's Life of
the Statesman and Dramatist. Here is the "man himsel," in the formal cut
blue dress-coat and white waistcoat of the last century. The face may
be accounted handsome: the cheeks are full, and, with the nose, are
rubicund--_Bacchi tincti_; the eyes are black and brilliantly
expressive;--and the visiter should remember that Sir Joshua Reynolds,
in painting this portrait, is said to have affirmed that their pupils
were larger than those of any human being he had ever met with. They
retained their beauty to the last, though the face did not, and the body
became bent. How much it is to be regretted that Sheridan with such fine
eyes had so little foresight. There is in the gallery a younger portrait
of him, in a stage or masquerade dress, which is unworthy of comparison
with the preceding.
231. Scene in Covent Garden Market. One of the best views of the old
place, by _Hogarth_; and one of the last sketches before the recent
improvements, will he found in _The Mirror_, vol. xiii. p. 121. By
the way, the pillar and ball, which stood in the centre of the square,
and are seen in the present picture, were long in the garden of John
Kemble, in Great Russell-street, Bloomshury.
243. Portrait of the late Mr. Holcroft. _Dawe._ In this early
performance of the artist, we in vain seek for the "best looks" of the
sitter: such as the painter threw into his portraits of crowned heads.
248. The Happy Marriage. An _unfinished_ picture by _Hogarth_;
yet how beautifully is some of the distant grouping made out;--what life
and reality too in the figures, and the whole composition, though seen,
as it were, through a mist.
249. Study of a Head from Nature, painted by lamp-light. _Harlow._
A curious vagary of genius.
258. Daughter of Sir Peter Lely. _Lely._ We take this to be the
oldest picture in the gallery. Lely has been dead upwards of a century
and a half.