New-York daily tribune., 1859-02-16
Netp7luris Dailu G1ibinle
NEW PUBLICATIONS..

!
| Appleton Co "a
| Although orein,ly brought out - holiday
publication thi, unique volume possesses too many
features Of curious interest TO allow i, 10 be forgot
! ten Nth the season which gave il birik. II en-
braces collection Of historical e,says and anec-
dotes. personal "reminiscences Of distinguished
British writer. and artists rare o,d letters illusra-
tive of English history, psrt Of which art nov
printed for the first time in English, brief misce!-
laneous poems, and profu.e variety of antiquarian
lore, autographs, legend gossip, incident, and de-
scrip.ion. The volume is Illustrated by numerous
sketches from designs by the authoress, and en-
graved by sOrie Of the most skillful American art
ISIS, Both its letter-press and embellishments en-
title it to place in the cabinet of the amateur o.
literary curio,iies while the diversified character
of it, contents viii amply CRAFTY the reader N
,earch Of entertainment.
The chapter entitled Evenings st the House Of
Sir Thomas Lawrence" gives some interesting
recollections Of that eminent painter.
At the tine alude to- be va. at the zenith OF HI
fame. His portraits OF Lady Bessington Lazy Bel
grave Lady Wsldegrave, the two children OF captain
Cslmady together with hundreds Of others, Of world
wide eputation adorned the walls Of Somerset House
in LONDON, at the annual exhibition. Royalty ard no.
biity abke delighted to do bm horror and his friends
reioced at bis IL hsd been their own. The
interior OF his house, devoted 70 the purposes o art
many apartments of great size and oftiness
the light falling brokeIly huge colossal forms Oi an
tquity, discolOred by time, grand and imposing IN
their proportions and attitudes. The LAGOON, the
Apollo Belyidere Diana, the Venus de Meiics, the
Sleeping Fann, the Muses. the Grsces aud buss IN
Vulnerable mounted on columns or phnths, were in-
teriDged with torsos vases, and other objects OF IN
teIest TO the architect, sculptor and painter, Whis
gigantic fragments Of irezes bass-rieyi, capitals OF
columns, and nchlycarved mural ornaments, were In
serted into the lofty walls, covering them from floor to
ceiling Etrura, Greece, and Rome, Assyria and an
cient Egypt, were all brought perpetusy before the
mind in these shattered fragments and dscolored mar
bles-leaving upon Ii vestges Of their once proud
cities and sacred temples, silent ard dssecrated.
From amid these relics of bygone rsces and ancient
times forth the modern master; unlike, but yet
in harmony with, all around him. or middle hight,
slight but well proportioned and with head ana face
resembling pale and beautiful portrait OF the old
masters. The bright gray eyes shining kindly on those
with whom he conversed the serene and classic feat
ures though perfectly coloress full of grace and ex
preston, ifradiated as though from light within
that-waile mpressng the behoder with q sense OF
intellect and benevoence-gave the additional idea OF
sincerity 10 the murmured tones and deierentlal
courtesy Of manner with which, from early aud ha-
btus association with the great il was the invariabe
custom of Sir Thomas Lawrence to address even MS
most intimate friends. Seated at table, under blaze
Of light the venerable painter Stohard, william
Young Ottey well known for his devotion To ART aud
his admirable History Of Engraving, and few other
attached friends who together with our accomplished
host, were soon deeply engaged In an apparently
microscopic examination Of dfa wings by the Old mas
ters with which the table strewed. while p0ruono
after portfolio yielded up s treasures to their unsated
eyes the glorious drawings and sketches OF Michael
Angelo and Raffaelle, Titan and Coregglo-of Leo.
nardo da ViLci Sebastian Gel Pi0mbo, and host of
others passing review before them receiving those
.,ip A
critical comment which artists are wont to bestow
Sometimes O,tley would start up in sort ot rap
ture holding at arms length some hutterlng scrap S
paper and with eyes blazing with enthusiasm would
e1claiIn: Good God ph0t liLe by hesvens, what
drawing whose hand bat that OF Rataele eoutd nave
given such turn to that headf such divine express
sion TO that face 2" Then sinking back in his char,
and taking enormous pnches of snuff in quick success
sop he wood shut his eyes Tor moment OF two, as II
in revere prrsuing the delightful soon
rousing himself, when running his fingers through hs
hair, he would pounce upon some other SUBJECT en-
larglng upon It with as much ervor and volatility az
ever. .
Between these outbursts he would tell delightful So
res Of Rome, Bologna, Venice, Ferrara-all the Old
coLtinerta places with whose history and treasures
long residence and many tudious years had made him
familiar, Of pictures rescued from Oblivion, oi Dess-
reevi moderiDg IN aIcient closters, which his own
hands had disinterred Of mssals, old crucres cha-
ices rings-and all the circumstances which gave
them value and interest pentifuy sprnkled with an
ecdotes Of monks librarians, and oddities OF AL de-
scrptons, which mad enliyened and enriched his for
cigL sojour in those deig htiu regions when expata-
iug upon them bis manner aud language had all the
glow and eIhlaraton Of I,alythat real love and feel
ing for what he praised, which mace the hsteer De-
hold with the eyes of the narrator the glorious prodac
tions he 20 eloquently described.
His devotion to art is well described.
Sir Thomas Lawrence lived in his art. No family
cares obsructed his course in the path which he 50
diligently pursued 10 fame. His romance o early love
coming Ia untimely close in the death OF his be-
trothed the most be -utful and most gifted OF the
daughters Of Mrs. SddoL the celebrated actress, he
made new choice Thenceforth the art which he
mad loved from bOyhOod was his only brde-and tue
smile Of woman only sought for the sake OF being
transferred TO his canvas. With what success his
machlcss female portraits sufficiently proclaim. In
these behold the countenances OF intellectual De-
ings, souls in their eyes, thoughts and passions ex-
pressed in their features and in gesture and contour
grace and dignity which no other Englsh artist has
equaled. Benjamin West bears testimoDyto tnis when
he sSys: "The portraits of Lawrence nee TO the dig
nity Of history; and ike similar works of Titan and
Nandyke, are not painted Tor the present tune aone
but for postsrty'
SrThomas possested unrivsed conversational pow.
always enveDipg the cOuntenaDces of those VINO
him for their portraits by introducing topics con-
genial TO their taste; for this was more emi-
nently qualified. Intimately acquainted with all toe
beauties OF English and foreign literature, the facul-
tes OF observation, dscernment, and discrimination
possessed in the greatest perfection, and continually
exercised among the most distinguished personsges OF
Europe, joined TO hs advantage. CT manner and per
son, rendered him, when he chose, one OF the most
fascinating Of men. George the Fourth often sad,
that " his Court contained more finished gentle
man than Lawrence" II was owing to TINS happy
combination Of qualities that his portrait OF Sir alter
Scott truly eXceent-t being the only ore odt
Of all painted of that admirable writer which con-
yeys just idea Of his mind.
Here are two or three agreeable anecdotes Of
Sir Thomas
IL