NEW PORTRAITS.:
The Princess Victoria, Engraved by RICHARD GOULDING, from painting by WILLIAM FOWLER. The original picture from which this print is engraved, was the occa- sion, we believe, of the offence given to the Duchess of KENT by Sir Tnosfas LAWRENCE; the story of which we have heard related thus. Mr. FowLER, very unexpectedly, found his picture had been rejected at the Academy ; and on inquiry as to the reason, was informed that it was not deemed to possess sufficient merit to allow of its being placed in the great room and in a principal place, and that it was not etiquette for por- traits of the Royal Family to be hung elsewhere. This equivocal answer naturally failed to satisfy Mr. FOWLER: and the Duchess also was highly • offended, but much more so when her intercession failed of altering the determination of the President. We have heard that Sir THosras was jealous of his prerogative, or menopoly rather, of royal portraits ; but from his pertinacious adherence to the first refusal, when a lady, and one of the Royal Family, interfered, it would seem that, either some previous misunderstanding existed, or that. Mr. FowLE a's picture was really one likely to attract admiration; for we know that the President did not seriously object to badly painted portraits—he did not disdain the use of foil in setting his gems. The head of the Princess is boldly drawn, though rendered xoinewhat hard in the line engraving : it is not such a likeness as Lawartar would have painted, or as HAYTER has drawn (vide last week's: SeEciatiT oft) ; but it is a strong likeness nevertheless. There is a cold and shrewish look given to the features in the print, however, which is not characteristic. The eyes also are too open ; which gives a more than ingenuous expression to the face. The mechanical part of the engraving is clear and decided ; and the flow of the line in the flesh is beautiful.
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