HISTORICAL PAINTING.
TO TILE EDITOR OF TILE SPECTATOR.
King's Bench. lath September 1936.
Stn—I appeal to the English People, the Nobility, the Government, and the King, if the condition of historical painters for a hundred years has been honourable to or worthy of the rank of the country in science and art ? Re- gard a moment the historical painters of France, Germany, and the Nether- lands ; are they not more employed, better off, and in higher rack? Since THORNHILL'S time, has any historical painter made a decent competence ? is not their condition become a proverb all over Europe? HUSSEY retired to Devonshire in disgust; WEsr, but for the King, would have starved ; BA R It V was always in struggles ; FUSEL( escaped to the Keepership ; PROCTER died of want, after carrying both medals for painting and sculpture. Ilowaan was glad to be Secretary; HILTON to succeed FUsEL1; WEsTALL has been in great afflictions ; ETTV has left off great works ; and I am in a prison.
There is but one cause for this—the want of State encouragement.
The Duke of Bent-olio has presented my Xenophon to the Russell Insti- tution. Suppose the Government gave two commissions annually for dif- ferent institutions, and offered premiums for the best designs for the interior of the Lords : we should cease to hear of the necessities of historical painters. It will be done sooner or later : would it not be a pleasure to Lord MELBOURNE to start the thing? If I may be allowed to intimate my own cause of affliction, it is from paying 303/. 8s. 6d. law costs, in addition to losing 210/. 16s. 811. on the Banquet, and paying 59-2/. this last year in Into to the greater portion of my creditors, leaving the remainder angry and disappointed. But I am nearly out of debt ; and could I be placed again before my canvas, and three fine subjects I have left, (Poictiers, Saragossa, and Sampson,) I would pay the balance in a year, or less. I am in prison for JOB.: my friends would pay it, but unless my peace is guaranteed by the rest, I should be in confinement again in a week. You have always been kind, and seemed to consider my troubles not quite private, caused as they have been solely by beginning great works in early life without capital. Your obedient servant, B. R. Halmos. P. S. So completely had lawyers stripped me, I had scarcely clothing left : on 71. Ws. I paid 8/. 10s. costs ; on 15/. 19/. costs! and could not help it. And now I tun locked up, as an additional assistance—a profitable labourer !
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