The Sun.
London, England, 1819-07-14 00:00:00

LITERARY REVIEW.

:IdENIOMS of the LIFE of Sir JOSHUA REYNOLDS;
with Observations on his Talents and Character.—By
JOAF.I to FARINGTON, It. A.

The great Artist who is the subject of the pre•
scot Work, has contributed so much to the im-
provement of the national taste nod the honour
of the Country, that a strong interest will always
osetach to !tis.name and character. It is said, that
none but a Poet should write_ the Life, or criti-
cise the Works, of a Poet, and the same obsers;a-
(ion may apply to the character and productions
f ari Artist. It may, perhaps, be observed, that
as the Author of this Work did not pursue the
Faroe track in Painting as the subject of it, the
task should rather have been executed by one
who had been engaged in the same province ;
but as excellence in one department of an Art
tee ins necessarily to imply taste and judgment in
another, a Landscape Painter of superior merit
may well be deemed sufficiently qualified to exa-
mine the Wm ks of 'base who are eminent in
Portraits, or in \Votks of a poetical aid historical
sl,sciiption. Mr. FARINGTON'S 03,Trit as an
Acist, has been hog established, mid the Work
before us skews that his talents are nut confined
to his pencil ; for- while he has erected a blogra-
pniesi monument for Sir Josnua BEY:wens, he
has raised a memorial of his own taste, judg-
ment, and candour as a Critic. This bioeraphi,
cal record modestly prefesSes to be chiefly an
addition to the Life or Sir JOSHUA RiANOLOS,
prefixed to his svoiks by the late Mr, MALONE,
hat, in truth, it may be considered as an orig;nal
Work, as it cantains many anecdotes not to be
found in tie other, as well a fuller illustration
of the character,' talents, anti productions of the
great departed President. In the course of the
nal rative many interesting anecdotes are given, in
the notes or in the text, which, if privately known,
had not before been published. Among these anec-
dotes ate some relating to Ho osoN the first Master,
of Sir JessinA, whose jealousy was incstrably
excited by the superior powers of hia
AS LEY the Painter, STRANGE the Engraver, the
first Alderman. Boiosn.h, Mascot, an Artist and
confidential friend of Sir Joshua, and several
other contemporary characters are introduced.
Mr. FARINGToN mentions the first Alderman
}SOY DELL with all the warmth t' friendship, but
with a strict tie:ard to troth. The worthy Alder-
man, indeed, was a 'striking illtistration of 110-
GsWT'H'S Industrious Apprentice ; he raised himself
into affluence and the highest honour of the city
of London, by talents, diligence, and integrity ;
and he employed his wealth for the noblest por-
poes, the improvement of mankind in the Arts
which embellish society, and in tile proinotioo of
Morality and Relit ion. The Ant horthen adverts to
the SHAKSPEARE GALLERY, a Work that was in the
highest degree honourable to the munificent spirit
of :he worthy Alderman, and he proceeds to notice
that admirable Establistonent, Tits Barrlsa IN-
FTITUTIosI, which is not only a nursery for Bri-
tish Genh -, but by its several exhibitions of the
Works of the great Masters of former days; has
excited a spit it of emulation in the Artists of the
present times, and improved the taste of the pub-
lic at large. It appears, that although Sir JositUA
had many Pupils, none rose to eminence but
NORTHCOTE. A full account is given of the oc-
casion which induced the President to resign the
Academic Chair, and of the liserai and respectful
condact of the Royal Academy which induced
him to resume it, and the whole is related with
the utmost candour. The character of Sir Josnusn
personal and professional, is drawn with acuteness
and judgment, and his merits in both respects are
fairly weighed and justly estimated, The domestic
.habits and connexions of the great Founder of the
English School of Painting, are indeed so presented
to the Reader, that his calor disposition, unassuming
-dignity, and interesting deportment, hold forth
a model for private life, while his precepts and
example affoul the best lesson for professional
story Ethd practice. The Author follows his sub-
ject to the tomb, and copiously describes ail the
circumstances attending the ceremonies and
honours which masked the occasion.—ln the
coarse of the IVotk there are interspersed many
judicious reflections and remarks which manifest
lhe good sense, sound taste, and extensive cape-
orience of the Author, who may now be fairly said
to have added to his well merited reputation as an •
Artist, that of a refined Critic and a faithful
Biographer. The Work is embellished with a
Print representing the town of Plympton, the
birth-place of Sir Josntra Revteoeos, well en-
graved by LITITIA BYRNE, from a beautiful draw-
ing by Mr. PARINGToN. If the same enthusi-
ast)) prevails among Artists, which animates the
admirers of Poetsy, PLYM?TON, the birth-place of
the first of English Painters, will he held in ve-
naration like STRATFORD-UPON-AVoN, where,
indeed, not the first of English Poets was born,
but the greatest of all Poets, who was " formed
in the Prodigality of Nature."

LONDON JOURNALS.

FROM THE MORNING PAPERS OF TINS DAY.

[British Press.]

Two reasons ate assigned for the prorogation
l'aiktament for so short a time as the 24th of
August. One, the spirit of discontent manifested
in the country ; the other, that the 1.,,)rd Chan-
cellor, who is expected to leave town about that
time, may not have his vacation broken in upon
by being shortly elided hark to town, as would
be the case were the prorogation fixed for a later
I►eriod.