28 JANUARY 1832, Page 20

The pair of whole-length portraits of the KingandQueen, in mezzo-

tint, are on the eve of publication, and we have seen proof impressions of each. That of the King is engraved by HODGETTS, from the like- ness of him when Duke of Clarence, painted by Sir THOMAS LAW- RENCE. It is not characteristic of the Sailor-King ; and has more the air of a country gentleman standing for his picture in an attitude that is new to him. LAWRENCE has wished to make the King handsome and genteel ; and in doing so, has merged the energetic frankness and ho- nesty of his character, in an air of assumed elegance. The portrait of the Queen is engraved by REYNOLDS, from Sir WILLIAM BEECHEY'S picture, exhibited last year in the Royal Academy. It is not merely the best, it is the only good and true likeness of Queen Adelaide that we have seen. There our praise of the work ends ; for although the meretricious qualities of the execution are somewhat less objectionable in the black and white of the plate than in the colour of the painting, the poverty, coldness, and formality of the style, and the profusion of bad draperies, are equally palpable. The engravers seem to have per- formed their share of the task with fidelity, speaking from our re- collection of the originals. Mr. RmsoLDs we think entitled to most praise, both for clearness of tone and truth of resemblance. There appears a slight difference between the likeness of the King in Mr. HODGETT'S plate and that in the picture ; and the flesh tints are rather muddy. The purity and brilliancy of Mr. CozENs's mezzotint spoil us for any thing less perfect. We wish he had been employed on this plate ; no one does equal justice to LAWRENCE'S works. But we have before us another, though a totally different portrait of . the Queen. " An Equestrian Party-scene, Brighton Downs," is the unassuming title of a very clever sketch, by J. D. (who too modestly withholds his name-DovLE) of the Queen enjoying her favourite ex- ercise, attended by a cavalcade, amongst whom we recognize the Duke of Cambridge, his son Prince George, and Lord Frederick Fitz- clarence. These are prominent personages in the group ; and the re- semblances are strikingly characteristic. We also perceive likenesses of the Princes Leopold and Esterhazy, the Princess Carolath, Sir Herbert Taylor, &c. The arrangement of the party is happily ma- naged, with a sort of processional character, the Queen of course taking the lead. The likeness of her Majesty is not at all flattering, nor, we think, quite so favourable as truth would allow. The figures of all the party arc sketched with that union of spirit and neat- ness which distinguishes the style of Mr. DOYLE. The horses are admirably drawn, and will bear the scrutiny of the connoisseurs of Tattersal's ; they appear to be portraits also. The print is an inter- esting one, independently of its value as a group of portraits.