History of England from the Peace of Utrecht to the Peace of Versailles (Volume 6); 1713-1783 (Paperback)

This historic book may have numerous typos, missing text or index. Purchasers can download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. 1851. Not illustrated. Excerpt: ... CHAP, our own brief span and fleeting pleasures, that, LX' are fostered by a frequent contemplation of the Litera- works of the departed great. Once, as Sir David tuartnd Wilkie (Mr. Washington Irving and myself being then his fellow-travellers in Spain) was gazing on one of Titian's master-pieces -- the famous picture of the Last Supper in the Refectory of the Escurial -- an old Monk of the Order of St. Jerome came up to him, and said, "I have sate daily in "sight of that picture for now nearly threescore "years. During that time my companions have "dropped off one after another--all who were my "seniors, all who were of my own age, and many "or most of those who were younger than myself "-- nothing has been unchanged around me ex"cept those figures, large as life, in yonder paint"ing -- and I look at them till I sometimes think "that they are the realities and we the shadows " Far, therefore, from joining in the shallow sarcasms of Foote, we shall see reason to lament and wonder that a public collection of the works of the great old Masters was for so many years delayed amongst us. More than half a century elapsed between the establishment of the Royal Academy and the establishment of the National Gallery. Even now the latter collection has by no means attained the number of pictures, nor the degree of merit, which in such a country as ours it should have long ago. The lack of it has been, in many cases, supplied by what indeed no future excellence in it can ever wholly supersede either to artist or to connoisseur--a pilgrimage to Italy. It may be c H A P, truly said that Rome in this age is as renowned LXfor the concourse of English in the cause of Art, Literaas for objects of devotion it was in the days of the TuEEAND 0 . J ART. Lombard Kings.* The p...