The Sun.
London, England, 1819-07-12 00:00:00

TOMKINS'S PICTURE LOTTERY.

TESTIMONIALS. •
LETTER from BENJAMIN WEST, Esq. President of the
hoval Academy, addressed to the COMMITTEE of the
HOUSE of COMMONS.
grIENTLEMEN—Havinz careuly examined
'ILA the WORK of the BRITISH GALLERY,f PICTURES,
in Two Series, as executed by Mr. TOMKINS, it is toy de-
cided opinion, that as a Work of Art, in Engraving, they
are both correct and beautiful, in their imitations to•the 04-
gioal Paintings flout which they have been taken. They do
Mr. Tomkins much honour as an Engraver in that-elegant
department of Art, as they al<o do to the Age and Country
in which we live:- and theselarm'a Work N 1 hiCir will be ho-
noured and admired by subsequent Ages, and reflect consi-
derable credit on British talent. 1 am, Sec.
March 20, 1811.. BENJAMIN- WEST,
The same was also signed by It. COSWAY, R.A.
The following addressed to P. W. TOMKINS, Esq.-
From Sir THOMAS LAWRENCE, R.A. March ."!ai, 1817.
Sia-I received the favour of your letter, requesting my
opinion of the Engravings which form your National Work
of " The British Gallery Pictures."
After au attentive inspection of them, I have no difficulty
in Assuring pin, that they appear to me to be exceedingly
accurate in their resemblance to the Pictures from which they
are copied, and are very beautiful specimens of a Gi e. style of:
Engraving.
The colouring of the Plates is, 'I think; as close an imita-
tion of the Originals as is capable of being produced, and
the finished and equal execotioti of the Work is highly lf-
nourable to the well-kuown ability of the Artists employed,
and to the careful integrity with which this National Work
has been conducted.
•

From T. STOTHAiID, Esq. ILA. March 2:), 1817.
Sin—On surveying your coloured Prints, I think 'them
beautiful, and bare no hesitation, in athiping; they ark the
best Specimens of Prints I hare ever seen in Colours; at
once affording an idea of the conspOsition, of •the light and
shade, and colouring of the several Paintings, as far as it it
possible to accomplish by multiplied impressions.
From Sir WILLIAM. March 1817,•
DeAtt Silt—ln compliance with your request, I have looked
Over the folios of Prints left at my house, and cannot sup-
pose there can he two opinions on their merits : both in re-
gard to the Engraving and the Colouring, they are certainly
most exquisitely finished and unique-,--1 am, dec. • • •

•
From .1. WARD, Esq. A. March 46•, 1817.
MY Dr.A it St a—l conceii'e that there can he but one opi-
nion as it, respects the excellence of the highly IneritoKuus:
Work your bare so ably advanced.As an individual, I de4ly
regret the circumstance of our higiiiy-favoured Couritryheitig
deprived from the state of the Continent at this time, of the
bonotir and advatitage-attemling the•dissentinating., thron.tli,
out Europe, of so rich a dispiay of,Talent io that department
of Art frOtn which'it has.fOrmerlyVequired so great

of wealth, as writ as of reputation._.
From M. A, Si-lEE, Esq. It. A.
have'great pleasure inadding mytestimony to'that,
of the President of the Ittual Acadeuq, in favour of the liri7
tish Gallery of Pictures executed by in the oiti=
mendation bestows upon that NVork I entirely concur ;as
it appears to me to be executeal with r,teat ability, to he highly
creditable to the Artists who have oeen engaged in it, and
well deserving of eve!). remuneration which can he derived
`rout the taste and liberality of Parliament.
Dal. It. A. ILth March, 1817.

Sin-1 have been very -much' gratified by the inspection of
rota very excellent Work. of the British Gallery, the greater,
part of which' had not seen before. The different subjects.
are executed with great taste and ability, as Engravings, awl,•
to the best of my recollection of the originals, much fidelity ;
and the mode in which they an completed as Paintings is new
and ingenious. Certainly, tlierosult far exceeds any .cohnii ed
imitations that were ever produced in Europe. On the whole,
I consider the Colleetion'to be -a very creditable specimen of
English Art, and cannot help feeling much regret that su
much talent and so umeli labour and expence,' its such a Work
must necessarily have incurred, have not hitherto,as I under-
stand, been rewarded by a corresponding share of publiC en-
couragement.
From J. FLAXMAN, Esq. It. A. March 26, .1817.
Man Sin—l haVe examined the several Plates of your First
and Second Series of Engravings, entitled The British Gallery
of Pictures ; and Icotigrattilate you on the fidelity and beauty
of this National Wirrk. I remain, &c.
From J. NOLLEKENS, Esq. It. A.-March v;, 1817.
I)eAK Si tt,—.4 have viewed your beautiful First and Second
Series of Plates of the British Gallery of Pictures, which are
admirably executed; and they confer a great degree of credit
upon you, as an Artist, and do an honour to the Conntry.
Hoping you will meet a Sale for them by the- liberality of
Parliament.
The PRIZES, valueil at 152,2251. are now on View, at
No. 54, New
...Bond-street, where Tickets, Price 31. 2. s .
each, are on Sale ; also by P. W. and F. P. Tomlin-is, No. 53,
New Bond-street; Longman and Co. Paternoster'-row; Ca-
dell ,and Davies, Strand; Hurst, Robinson, and, Co. No.. 90,
Cheapside ; J. W: No, 103, Newgate-street ; P.
Colnaglii and Cu. Cockspur->trett ; and at all the Lottery
. •