FINE ARTS.
POSTHUMOUS PRINT OF WELLINGTON.* The chief interest attaching to this print is not that of the " Royal An- niversaries," but, now more than ever, of an heroic anniversary—that of the birth of the great Duke of Wellington ; who, with the Queen, Prince Albert, and the infant Prince Arthur, forms the fourth member of the group. The Duke is presenting a rich casket to his Royal godson and namesake; who, kept in a standing position on the arm of a sofa by his mother, holds out to him a bunch of lilies of the valley ; while, behind them, Prince Albert bears in his hand a plan of the "Crystal Palace," the work which makes the day an anniversary to him also. The building it- self is visible in the distance.
As containing the first important portrait of the Duke that has ap- peared posthumously, the print claims, and will doubtless receive, con- siderable notice. Those marked, dignified, and revered features, were both too strongly pronounced and too familiar to be rendered otherwise than competently by a skilful artist such as Mr. Winterhalter. But his success does not extend further than this. There is a certain courtierly and ungenial look of German officialism in the head, which, aided by the semi-symbolic action, is far from conveying that impression of nobly earned self-reliant peace, that air of disciplined thoughtfulness and cour- tesy, so characteristic of the Duke in his later days. The best record of this period—admirably true and finely executed—are the engravings, both of the smaller and of the larger size, from the daguerreotype portrait. Behnes's bust displayed the same qualities ; and there was a fine notion of the Duke,. in physiognomy as well as action, in Landsoer's picture of the hero revisiting his old field of glory—Waterloo.
Of the print in other respects, we may say briefly, that the likeness of the Queen is more accurate in feature than agreeable ; and that the put- ting together of the composition has an air of unreality. Prince Albert is neither attentive to the foreground group nor intent on his own special department, the Crystal Palace. Prince Arthur is the most pleasing im- personation. Mr. Cousins's share in the work has been performed with his usual eminent ability.
• The First of May 1851: a Picture painted by command of her Majesty for the State Apartments at Windsor Castle, by F. Winterhalter, as a record of the Royal Anniversaries connected with that month. Engraved in Mezzotinto, by Samuel Cousins, A.R.A. Published by Colnaghi and Co.
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