The Sun.
London, England, 1838-05-14 00:00:00

FINE ARTS.

FINDEA"S PORTRAITS OF THE FEMALE
ARISTOCRACY. Fraser, London, 1833.
We have just seen the first Number of a series of en-
gravings under this title, which are executed by linden,
Hull, and Mote—all skilful artists, and the first especially
so. The idea is a fortunate one ; and if the undertaking
be completed in the spirit in which it has been commenced,
it will constitute a " Book of Beauty," far superior to any
of those which have been palmed upon us as such from
year to year, for the last four years and upwards. We
dislike to see our artists journeying annually to Greece, and
Spain, and Italy, in search of lovely female faces wherewith
to enrich their " Books of Beauty." They had much
better stay at home, and seek for models among their own
countrywomen, who are unsurpassed by any nation in the
world, for delicate symmetry of form, for sweetness, grace,
purity, and dignity of expression—for all, in short, that we
most love and venerate in woman. Where, for instance, is
a more brilliant galaxy of beauty to be met with, than one
sees in the course of a fine summer afternoon's stroll
through the parks, or along Constitution Hill? Talk of
the loveliness of the Italian dames of quality ! What is it
when compared with that of our fair aristocratic eques-
trians, not a few of whom are grace and beauty personified,
and who at this auspicious season of the year are to be met
with in throngs, breathing, and deriving the rich glow of
health, from the fresh air of the parks ? We have said a
hundred times, when speaking of the Annuals, and we here
repeat the assertion, that, as a body, the female aristocracy
of Great Britain is the loveliest that this earth of ours can
show ; and the little work before us, so far as it has yet
proceeded, fully justifies our opinion. Here we have por-
traits of her Majesty, of the Countess of Hillsborough, and
of Lady Louisa Cavendish ; and each of the three is exqui-
site in its style of beauty. The portrait of the Queen—
which, by the bye, is a likeness that no one can mistake—is
replete with true royal dignity, tempered however by the
sweetest and most benignant expression of countenance.
The attitude is remarkable for its easy grace, and is that of
one fixed, but not too abstractedly so, in contemplation.
The Countess of Hillsborough is another lovely portrait,
though of a different order from that of Victoria. The
face beams with gentleness and simplicity ; the features—
with the exception of the full, dark, eloquent eye—are
small and delicately pencilled ; the neck rivals that of a
swan in its symmetry and alabaster whiteness ; and the
figure is as light, airy, and buoyant as a Dryad's. The
picture, in short, is that of some happy, innocent, young
creature—such as Lucy Ashton is represented to be by
Scott, ere sorrow had yet laid his heavy hand upon her.
As an engraving, this portrait deserves high praise, for deli-
cacy of touch and carefulness of finish. The back-ground
is a picturesque bit of sylvan scenery. Lady Louisa Caven-
dish wears a more matronly aspect, which is in part attribut-
able, no doubt, to the somewhat precise and formal
arrangement of the hair. The features, however, are per-
fect in point of symmetry. On the whole, we know of no
similar production of the present day, which is more worthy
of public patronage than this, and we shall look forward to
the appearance of the future Numbers with considerable
interest.