20 JULY 1861, Page 19

fin 51rto.

THE LITE MRS. H. T. WELLS.

ON Monday, the 15th instant, Art lost a rare exponent, and England one of its most accomplished daughters : at noon on that day died Mrs. H. T. Wells, in the plenitude of. youth and promise. In her the Art-world had recognized for some time past a genius of extra- ordinary power; and, although the public has not yet been familiarized with her works, it will in the end be seen that the Eliza- beth Browning of painting has gone from amongst us. No English- woman has ever set forth such mastery of style and such subtle qualities of painting as are impressed upon her works. Great as they were, her powers had not in all probability arrived at maturity ; nor would death permit the full development of her genius.. As it is, however, her work will lose nothing by comparison with that of many of our best painters. Her subjects were always intellectually conceived, and executedln a large and dignified style. In proof of this the reader may be referred to the three pictures from her hand, now hanging on the Academy wall's. The following facts in the life of this gifted woman may be found interesting : Born in 1831, the girlhood of Mrs. Wells (then Miss Joanna Boyce) was marked by no extraordinary tokens of the talent within her, but after studying in one or two of the London Art-schools, the great bent of her nature expanded and gave signs of its inherent power. The writings of Ruskin and the principles of pre-Raphaelism touched her inmost sympathies, and quickened her impulse. She studied constantly and painted much until 1855, when she ex- hibited at the Royal Academy a picture of "Elgiva," and shortly afterwards went to Paris and entered the atelier of M. Couture. About this time Madame Herein', reader to the late Empress Maria Louisa, sat to Miss Boyce for her portrait. The result was a powerful work, which was in the Exhibition of 1857. But most remarkable at this period, was the large picture of "Rowena offering the wassail cup to Vortigern." This noble pro- duction—a half-lerigth life-sized figure—was sent for exhibition with the Portrait, but, though full of qualities which would have made the name of its author long since or public note, it was rejected by the Council of the Royal Academy. In this year Miss Boyce went to Italy, ma

king a tour through France on the way. The summer

months she spent with her friends and future husband at Todi. At

Rome, on December 9th, she was married. In company with her husband, Mrs. Wells visited Naples and the south of Italy, returning to England in March, 1858. The Academy Catalogue for that year does not include Mrs. Wells's name ; but in that of 1859 it is appended to "A Homestead on the SurretHills," painted during the previous autumn, in the neighbourhood of Dorking. Here also was painted a work. which attracted great attention at Mr. Gambart's Winter Exhibition, It illustrated the line, "No joy the blooming season gives," and represented an outcast harrying in. sorrow and poverty through gloom and storm. This picture also was rejected by the Royal Academy. While in Rome Mrs. Wells had commenced "The Child's Crusade," exhibited in the Academy last year, but so cruelly hung as to almost escape observation. From Italy she also brought many sketches and studies, and soon after her return began the picture of " Peep-bo !" This was followed by the "Heather Gatherer" and "Ls Veneziana." Justice was at length awarded by the Academy to Mrs. Wells, and the last-mentioned works have been placed in situations where they can be seen.

But a few weeks before her death she finished a lovely work, yet to be seen in public—the head and bust of an angel. Its execution seems to have called forth her utmost, as it has her latest, efforts. Full of the tenderest and most loving work, this picture, both in subject and execution, befittingly closed the career of one who was no less a fervent Christian than a gifted painter. As a wife, mother, and friend, her affectionate and amiable disposition and overflowing joyousness will leave memories such as time will not impair.

The claims of Art did not prevent Mrs. Wells bestowing some por- tion of her time and attention to pursuits of a literary character. To her pen the Saturday Review was, at one period, indebted for several Art-articles of the most observant and discriminative, though kindly nature, written in a remarkably clear and scholarly style.

I cannot close this- brief notice without expressing a hope that one of Mrs. Wells's pictures may hereafter find a home in one of our national collections. We have had instances lately where the pur- chase of a picture by a deceased artist, for the purpose of presenta- tion to the nation, has been dictated as much front feelings of bene: volence towards those he has left behind as from a wish to pay homage to his genius. In the present case the former motive does not exist. From their intrinsic merits alone the works of Mrs. Wells deserve a national home;. and if it can be achieved, the lovers of British art should not rest until they have added to the collection—, whose sole specimen by a female painter is the "Faith, Hope, mut Charity," by the Swiss Angelica Kaliffman—the "Rowena," or "Crusade," of the talented Englishwoman, whose death has caused' a gap in the ranks of painting that will not readily be filled.