THE REVEREND J. SANDFORD'S COLLECTION OF PICTURES.
WE are indebted to an amateur for calling our attention to a curious collection of Italian pictures, formed by the Reverend J. SANFORD during a twenty years' sojourn in Italy. They have been consigned to Messrs. Yierss, for private sale; and are exhibited at the Cosmorama Gallery, 209, Regent Street. They are one hundred and eighty-eight in number ; and include some curious specimens of the earlier and less. known painters of time Italian school, and several repetitions of famous pictures by time greatest masters. But we neither assert nor question the authenticity of any. 'file two most extraordinary pictures are a " Holy Family," life-size, affirmed to be the original, by RApHAEL, of the famous picture known as the " Impantsata " (so named from the window in time background) in the Pitti Pahmce at Florence, (76); and a duplicate of the celebrated " Vanity and Modesty" of LEONARDO DA VINCI, (100 which is stated to be the original. We admire the beauty of the design and composition of the Holy Family, and the subtle sweetness of the face of !Storm Lisa, LEO- NARDO'S favourite beauty, as Vanity,— a character that belies her expression, and proves the inappropriateness of the title given to the picture by LUINI. The Monne Lisa was the original model for the head of Christ in the picture by IsuoNalmoo, in the National Gal- lery, which accounts for its feminine beauty and softness. There is a beautiful copy of this head, by SASSOEERRATO, (141). Three other Holy Families, ascribed to RAPHAEL, (2, 3, and 116,) very much re- semble another by F. PENN!, (150): they are all beautiful pictures, but the divinely human innocence and purity—the ineffable loveliness and grace of RAPHAEL'S virgins are wanting.
Two long compositions from the history of Joseph, (0 and 7)—
highly-wrought miniature pictures by BACCHIACCA, a fellow pupil wits RAPHAEL of PERUGINO, are full of beautiful expression and graceful drawing. They were painted to adorn the marriage-bed of a Flores. tine lady, Madonna Margheritta, wife of Pier Francesco Borgbssui, of whom an interesting anecdote is related. Her husband busia; retired to Lucca during the siege of Florence, Giovanni flutist; thought to get possession of them for the purpose of propitiating Francis the First ; and he went to her house armed with the Goon, merit authority to take them ; when the courageous matron not only se. fused to give them up, but rated Giovanni soundly, and seta him in the officers of the republic packing. We have not space to enumerate all the interesting pictures in the collection. It includes several tine Ilear's and Landscapes, rim
whether originals or not, will well repay inspection. The greatest'
curiosity and the most striking work of art su the Gallery, i5 a bust of Lorenzo di Medici in terra cotttoa,Aciti■fc,itit,r‘citi:/i. tAsi Nrtyisr1.(0sa,intth/Lfe,..impitet is ascribed, with great probability, grandeur of style and truth to nature of the modelling are worthy of his gigantic power. The flattened, awry nose, the long dreary mouth, the knit brow and downcast eyes, bespeak the gloomy dispe. sition, resolute will, and profound sagacity (A that politic prince, and munificent patron of those artists that were the glory of his reign and country. The hair combed straight down surd cut off square at the sides, and the red turban-cap and massive drapery, contribute to tie severe simplicity of the vraisendohnce. Hitherto we have been in the habit of considering colour appli..d to sculpture as barbarous; but hers it animates form with living reality. It is as if a fine fresco painting had assumed solidity : it strikes you as with a blow. We know not whether the person represented or the art be the more formidable; to. gether they produce an ineffaceable impression.
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