The enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1804-1815, 1805-04-11

from the ideas of others. In his picture OF
Garrcs, he feized the true character of every
Object he copied, and produced piS,ure of
comfortable merit, all circumstances conIidcr-
ed, though not IN exact copy of the original.
What few portraits he painted, had the merit
| OF ftrong resemblance and there is TO doubt
that, if he had followed that branch Of the art,
he would have attained to great eminence, in ii.
His pictures of familiar fuhie6ts had conlidera-
| h'e merit in point of competition; and as he
painted all his figures from nature, their merit
was great in that refped: but, as thefe figures
were taken from one or two women and chill
dren who wer,s much about him, they have too
much familiarity in that reipetf.
Bat he ihines forth in all his glory in riciurefque
lsndicaPe. In his ben pictures of this kind every
tereitng crcumitance is combined and repreiented
with an accuracy and iprit that left nothing to de-
lire or reprehend upon thee pictures his reputati-
F., on will Rand firm and fccure. For about feven
years that he painted fueh iubieefs he was in his
prime; and though the figures he introduced of
the lower order, they confident with the icenes,
and had nothing to give disguit; but when his in
creating irregularities led him from the wood iide to
the ale-houte, his ubie6ts affirmed meaner cat, is
they Partook of the meanreis of his fociey for he
Till painted what he iaw. Stage-coachmen poitli-
oAs, and drovers, drinking, honoured by his
pencil; his theep changed for pigs; and, at la
with the true feeling of diiciple of Gree he for
look the pctureique cottage and the wood ide, and
never ieemed happy but in a pig Aye. have faid,
that his excellence eontiited in marking the cha
raefer of what he faw which is fomcthnr different
from representing objeets with pure correctness and
truth hence his pictures afforded the freft fpcci-
mems OF the fie7vqae, but nothing that is elegant or
beautiful IN point of form. OF animals, the afs the
heeP, and the hog, his avoures; their e5a,0e-
ter may be truly reprciented by few ftrokes: but
to do this it is notneceary give an accurate deli
/ lpIr ta hnrf. h.
with much effect when old, ragged and vulnerable
but beautiful horie he never could draw as it would
be drawn by Gipn, Stubs, or any artilf of tina.
ichoo. The women, in his early pictures have much
prettyneis, becauie they were painted from women
VINO were pretty but there is nothing in his works
that induces US TO believe that he felt what IN elegant
woman was, much leis, that he had the lean know
ledge of beauty combined with elegance and dignity
OF character. Having faid what he wal. it is but u-
tice to add, that it his mind had been cultivated and
MS attention directed to any other department of the
art, 1t Is probable that, with the powers he pofefIed
he would have attained to as high degree of excel
ience as ne actually did in that which he followed
! have iaid thus much of Morland, not with view
to deprecate his talents to perpeuate the memory
OF his FAULTS bur becaufe, though all have been loud
III his Prae, few have juhly appreciated his talents
anc though all have cenlred his Irregularities no one
has truly shewn whence they proceeded and hope
TINS iketch will have not been made in vain it fur
mines an additional! proof, that iuperorty of ia
lent and no degree OF encouragement can preferve
man OF genius from mifery unles he has caution to
guard hinlelf from the fnares which will be laid for
ms nexperence and prudence to regulate his conduct
IN all the affairs of life. The Memoirs of this diffin
gulned artiit afforded another riing nnance of the
impohbllty OF ferving genius when debated by vice
or perverted by eecentricy. He would accept of no
patronage, uneis afforded in mode agreeable to him.
telt and if atied by the hand of difnereiled bene
violence, againit his WILL the fervice beiowed was
always rendered ublervient the vice which deroy
ed both his body and mind.
London A4oufby A14gaSine, far Dee1