Virtually, Sir FRANCIS CHANTREY has bequeathed the bulk of his
large property to the nation, subject to the consent of his widow, as re- gards his real estate ; the trustees under his will being the stewards of his bounty, and the arts of painting and sculpture the channels through which it flows. This is a noble and patriotic act, and one which en- titles the memory of CHANTREY to veneration as a public benefactor. Whet Sir THOMAS GRESHAM did for commerce, Sir FRANCIS CHANTREY has done for art : -GRESHAM built an Exchange and endowed a College ; CHANTREY has endowed a GIllery of Pictures and Statues—though he has wisely left it to the country to provide a suitable building. A Na- tional Gallery is a national want, that the paltry building in Trafalgar Square, so far from supplying, only makes more evident : the country is now furnished with a powerful inducement to erect such an edifice as may do hoot ur to the munificence of the founder of a really British gallery of art. To the artists this will be a stimulus to exertion of the most honourable kind; for not only are they to be paid "liberally " for their labours, but their works will be placed permanently in a protnis nent and distinguished situation before the public: no artist, however humble, bat must feel the influence of this incentive to advance in his career. The object for which we have always contended is now placed within reach, and its attainment is made certain. Veers may elapse— many, we hope for Lady CHANTREY'S sake—before the munificent be- nefaction of her husband begins to be realized; but its effect on the arts of the country will be felt from this time. The foundation of the Eng- lish school is laid; and, however long the superstructure may be in rising, however vast and splendid it may prove, it is to CHANTREY it will owe its existence as a national heir-loom : his name will be im- perishably connected with British art, of which he was an ornament as well as a supporter.
But the existence of the Royal Academy is also perpetuated ; and this self-elected, interested, irresponsible body of men, are made the janitors of the temple of British art, the dispensers of fame and fortune to themselves and their brethren, and the arbiters whose decision is to determine the value of a national collection. Verily, here is "a parlous fear": knowing the private motives that influ- ence the acts of this body in the election of members and the hang- ing of pictures, we regard with more of apprehension than hope the working of this scheme "for the encouragement of British art.' The Chantrey Gallery may be converted into a mere appanage of a clique, now more than ever independent of control in a legal point of view, though more amenable to public opinion in a moral sense. The power of the Academy is consolidated and increased, and its patronage extended by the bequest of Sir FRANCIS CHANTREY, while no other check than that of public opinion is provided against the undue influ- ence of favouritism and self interest : so far as regards the distribution of the funds at its disposal the will of the Academy is absolute. A few years hence the public will be better informed on subjects of taste, and the national pride and sense of justice will be jealous of the prostitution of a munificent bequest to unworthy purposes : the Academy itself, too, it may reasonably be hoped, will be composed of men of more enlarged views than some of the present set of Academicians ; and a feeling of responsibility in the performance of the important trust reposed in them may have its influence in determining their appropriation of the Chantrey Fund ; but the temptation to abase is too strong for any body of men not accountable for their acts. This shows the evil of Sove- reigns recognizing as a public body a knot of private individuals ; who take advantage of this Royal recognition to assume the importance and exercise the functions of a corporation, though they have no constituent existence, nor any laws for their government but such as they make themselves ; acting in a public capacity, but claiming immunity for their proceedings as a private society.
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