Gents Mag 1809 p.1147
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Gentleman's Magazine 1809 p.1147
benevolence, which his worthy disciple Mr. Robinson related to me, with expressions of the warmest regard and veneration for his memory. As a companion, Romney was uncommonly entertaining, from the force and originality of his ideas. Though he had not the advantages of a polished education, his extreme sensibilty gave a great delicacy to his manners, especially in the company of ladies: he rapidly gained their esteem, and and they delighted in his conversation. In the course of his annual visits to Sussex, a lady of brilliant talents and extensive reading, who has long been dead, used to say, 'I love to meet Romney at Eartham, because I am sure of hearing from him such remarks as we hear from no other mortal.' I have often regretted that I never formed a collection of his pointed sayings; for I am confident I might have preserved several that would not have disgraced the pages of a Caesar or a Bacon, who were both collectors of apophthegms. I recollect one of his replies to the questions of a lady that afforded some suprise and pleasure to a little party of his admirers in Sussex. The conversation happened to turn on the effects of emulation among Artists: a lady observed, that 'it often produced evil; but (she added) it appears necessary to call forth their talents; for, if you take away the spirit of emulation, there seems nothing left to animate the genius of a Painter.' "Yes, Madam (replied Romney), there is: and a more powerful incentive to laudable exertion." 'Pray, Sir, what is it?' "Religion, Madam," replied the serious Artist. The force and justice of his reply was duly felt and acknowledged. Indeed, Romney often painted under the influence of this sublime principle: he frequently considered the act of painting as an act of devotion, in which he was expressly thankful to Heaven for such talents as were given to him, by his solicitude to exert them in a manner that might conduce to the great interests of mankind. Had he retained health enough to complete his projected picture of the Temptation in the Wilderness as happily as he had begun it, in the figure of our Saviour, it might have proved a glorious monument of his devout and laudable ambition."These traits of character are followed by a "Sketch of Romney's Professional Character, by Flaxman," and opinions on the same subject by Mr. Hayley and other Artists. We shall not attempt to give an idea of the value of these communications. To Artists, and to the Lovers of the Art, they must be of incalculable importance. Artists have seldom been Authors; but the pen, in the hand of such men as Flaxman, emulates the professional weapon. If the life of an Artists does not afford those vicissitudes which are common to other men, and are supposed necessary to constitute biographical variety, it affords us what is perhaps more useful, and which is admirably exemplified in this volume, a series of instructions on the art, and anecdotes of its rise and progress, from which the student cannot fail to derive information and improvement of the most engaging kind. This volume, which is elegantly printed, contains the following Engravings, executed mainly by Caroline Watson, in a peculiarly-elegant and highly-finished style: 1. Portraits of Romney at different periods of his life; 2. The Introduction of Dr. Slop into the Parlour of Mr. Shandy; 3. Sketch of a Shipwreck; 4. The Head of Sensibility; 5. Study for the Head of Miranda; 6.Portrait of Madame Genlis; 7. Cassandra; 8. Head of our Saviour; 9. The infant Shakespeare; 10. Sir Isaac Newton, with the Prism; 11. Portrait of Romney, from a Medallion; 12. Portrait of Romney Robinson. These Engravings, we cannot help adding, render this book one of the cheapest purchases ever offered to the Publick, as it is undoubtedly one of the most ingenius and affectionate tributes ever paid to the memory of a departed friend. |
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