HOWARD. THE PLEIADES. THE beautiful daughters of Atlas are represented as hårbingers of the Sun and preceeding him in his rising, according to Milton. First in his east the glorious lamp was seen, His longitude through Heav'n's high road: the grey Shedding sweet influence. PARADISE LOST, Book VII. The Artist has embodied this description with a kindred poetical feeling, and the tasteful composition, correctness of drawing, and chastness of colour, which characterize the picture of the Pleiades, rank it among its accomplished painter's most successful productions. It was purchased by Sir John Leicester, Lord De Tabley, for his Gallery of Pictures of the English School: it is now in the possession of the Marquis of Stafford, by whose permission a fine Plate is engraving from it by William D. Taylor, in aid of the Artists' Benevolent Fund. Size 3 feet 8 inches, by 4 feet 3 inches. HOWARD. LES PLEIADES. D'APRES Milton, les sept filles d'Atlas et de Pléione sont les avant-coureurs du Soleil et précédent son lever: « L'astre du jour parut d'abord à l'Orient. Charmé de parcourir son vaste cercle dans la haute carrière des cieux, il éclairait l'horizon. L'Aurore préparait son chemin, et les Pléiades, dansant devant lui, versaient de douces influences. >> MILTON, Paradis Perdu, Liv. III. L'artiste a rendu cette description avec un sentiment digne de celui du poëte; l'ordonnance pleine de goût, la correction du dessin et la pureté du coloris qui caractérisent le tableau des Pléiades, le mettent parmi les plus heureuses productions du peintre : sir John Leicester, lord de Tabley, en fit l'acquisition pour sa Galerie Anglaise : il appartient maintenant au marquis de Stafford, qui vient de permettre que William D. Taylor en grave une belle planche au profit de la Société Bienveillante des artistes. Larg. 4 pieds; haut.: 2 pieds 6 pouces. LAWRENCE. KEMBLE IN ROLLA. THE finely expressive countenance and commanding figure of John Kemble so peculiarly advantageous to the personification of the loftier range of dramatic character, will not be easily forgotten by those who have had the gratification of witnessing his Wolsey, his Coriolanus, his Brutus, or his Hamlet. The rising generation and posterity must be content to form their ideas from the many excellent portraits which Lawrence's harmonious pencil has preserved of his friend. The picture of Kemble in the character of Rolla forms an interesting counterpart to his portrait as Hamlet, given in our first Volume. The action represented is the instant when, after having vainly implored the release of Cora's child from the ruffians of Pizarro, he plucks the boy from their hold, and declares to the chief Brigand himself: "Then was this sword heaven's gift, not thine! Who moves one step to follow me, dies upon the spot. PIZARRO, Act. V, Scene II. " This masterly picture has been well engraved in mezzotinto by S. W. Reynolds. |