New-York tribune., 1910-09-05


was Ryland, a pupil of Ravenet. who
was ultimately hanged for forgery after
engraving many portraits of the King
and Queen Not far from the Marquis
OF Butte is Lord North in a clear mezzo-
tint Of good quality. Dance was the
painter. and he had been well trained
by Hayman: but being rich and indo-
lent. he did not ofter, exert himself This
was one of his good portraits. with a
downright denotenent Of irresolute al
belt en,iable character Burke was the
engraver-an Irishman who followed
Bartolozzi and Earlom in style Lord
North. vacillatine and narrow minded
as he was. might have prevented the
war with the colonies by supporting his
chief. the Duke of Grafton in the repeal
OF the tea duty; but he was the fore
most time server among the Kings men
The real party leader was George III.
who made war on the Americans be-
cause he considered them bad subjects
needing to be soundly disciplined for their
own good. and on the Whig mobiles be
cause he was jealous Of their superior
Intelligence and autocratic power in the
state. Self-willed. courageous. donineer-
ing. good natured and vfrtuous. he al
ternately wheedled and bullied Lord
North and his ministers into obedience.
Richard Houstons naezzotint from Zof-
fany's portrait now in the Royal Collec-
ton was published in 1772 and was g
faithful likeness Of the monarch at the
outbreak Of the American Revolution.
His sword was on the te bic at which he
was seated, and his face had the COM
placent expression of an industrious and
anliable sovereign. On another wall is
Z more ceremonial print of George " as
Prince Of Wales. with the promise Of the
potency Of the future Tailor King. It is
an engraving in nezzotint from the
Reynolds portrait by Harvard, who made
one Of the best plates Of Mrs. Siddons as
the Tragic Muse. Near II is 4 mezzotint
OF George II engraved by Spooner from
Thomas Wo-lidges Rembrandtish por-
trait There is also pair Of Van Dycks
engraved by Frenchnlan. Pierre Lom-
tart Charles and the Protector. Oliver
Cromwell. There is the same plate for
the Protector with the face vhirnsically
altered
There are only five ladies in this great
company Of kings statesmen and SOL
diers. One is Queen Eliza beth. equally
grand and fussy. as the Exeter gold
smith Nicholas HiIliard. painted her in
miniature for the royal collections. The
engraving vas made by Jean Simon,
who painted portraits q century after
ward Another royal print is Queen
Charlotte 077D. engraved in nezzotint
by Houston after Zofany's companion
piece for George III in Buckingham Pal
ace The good but dull Queen is seated
with hands n7eekly folded and face
placidly smiling, and her dress is IN
commonly ugly She Is not bad
foil for sweet faced Martha Wash
tngton, as painted and engraved by
Wooley in an old-fashioned lace
cap-a rare mezzotint print Prim
Mrs. John Adams in line engrav-
ing from Gilbert Stuart's painting
suggests New England proprieties in the
Presidential mansion. piquant letter
writer as she was: but there is & touch
of coquetry in Mrs Madison, painted by
Chapel and engraved in line. and in
Prud' 'homme's steel engraving after Her
rings drawing from Woods portrait
the last with an autograph dinner in
vitation framed with II
IF court beauties are lacking among
the worthless Of the Revolutionary period
thev are 70 be found in the upper rooms
OF Dorchester House where the brilliant
collection Of fine proof engravings by
Samuel Cousins is displayed. Mrs Reid
purchased them not long ago, and there
must be nearly hundred Of then1-the
conpletest set Of Cousins known These
are the great ladies' whom Reynolds.
Gainsborough Romney Hoppner and
Lawrence painted during the classic
period Of British portraiture; and what
distinction. stateliness. grace and fasci-
nation they have Samuel Cousins rep
resented the best traditions and matured
practice Of the school Of hundred mez-
zotint and stipple engravers, who repro
duced with freedom and variety the
masterpieces OF British portraiture AS
these are early proofs, there are no signs
Of wear in the plates and the middle
tints and half lights are soft and har-
monious. These lovely prints were in
the rooms occupied by the Roosevelts
when they were in London. While they
lack the historical associations Of the
wonderful collection in the lower corri-
dors. they are incomparably more beau
tiful, and as works of art are intrinslcal-
ly more valuable. owing 10 their early
state and perfection Of finish. / \. F.