MR. KNIGHT'S PICTURE OF THE HEROES OF WATERLOO.
MR. J. P. KNIGHT'S portrait-picture of the Heroes of Waterloo is to be exhibited for a few days at Messrs. Gaaves's in Pall Mall : and, as a fine painting, independently of the subject, it is well worth seeing. It represents the Duke of Wellington receiving his companions in arms on the anniversary of the battle of Waterloo, preparatory to the banquet at Apsley House. The distinguished guests are ranged along one side of the reception-room; and the illustrious host stands in the centre, a little in advance, having Lord Hill on his right and the Marquis of Anglesfa on his left hand; Lord Stafford and Sir Edward Kerrison being seated at one extremity of the picture, and the Duke of Richmond, Sir Andrew Barnard, and Lord Vivian, at the other. The likenesses, so far as we are enabled to judge of them, are characteristic; and all the heads are animated and expressive—with the solitary but important ex- ception of the Hero of the Heroes. The likeness of the Doke of Wellington is neither correct nor agreeable, and his attitude is stiff and ungainly : this can be accounted for — the Duke, alone of the thirty commanders assembled, did not sit to Mr. KNIGHT for the picture. No wonder the Duke of Wellington would not sit—he has been worse used by the. limners than by his enemies ; we dare say he would much rather face an army than an artist, and be more shy of a painter's canvass than a masked battery. The marked features and point-blank look of Wellington have "bothered entirely" the brethren of the brush : they wanted to make him a hero each after his own fashion, and must needs try to improve upon the original ; whereas, had they only painted the physiognomy before them, they would have por- trayed the hero according to nature. To return to Mr. KNIGHT'S picture. The pictorial treatment of the subject is admirable: the formality and monotony of a room full of red coats is overcome as well as possible, by the arrangement of the groups, and the skilful introduction of the coloured ribands of the various orders and a dark uniform or two. The figures are well relieved, and have an air of life-like ease ; and the daylight breadth of effect over the scene gives it a lively aspect : in short, the execution is in every respect mas- terly. Since LESLIE'S Coronation Sacrament there has been no picture of its class equal to this.
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