of outline which belongs, perhaps, rather to the original than the copy. No. 139. Beatrice. A. Chalon. THIS is a whimsical composition erough. The head and hands of Beatrice only appear rising above a bush of rose trees; the colouring is rather too dry. No. 140. Flowers. J. Hewlett. IF Mr. Hewlett continues to paint in this style, England will never have to envy Holland her De Heem and Van Hysum. It is, in truth, a wonderfully executed picture; there is a spirit and richness in the touch, accompanied at the same time, with great warmth and mellowness of effect, which are absolutely enchanting, and bring nature before the eye. When time shall have somewhat softened the brilliancy of the present varnish, these roses, and hyacinths, and lilies, may vie with the most successful similar productions of foreign masters. Purchased by the Marquis of Stafford. No. 147. Boy, after Sir J. Reynolds. THE original, of which there is a mezzotint engraving, is a very pleasing picture; and Mr. Bone has, in this beautiful effort of his pencil, shewn himself master of all those powers of touch and colouring, which have rendered Sir Joshua's picture so popular. No. 148. The past, the present, and the coming hour. J. Shelley. THIS elegant composition consists of three females, of whom the retiring one represents the past hour, the central one the present, and the approaching one the coming hour. The air of gaiety, in the present and coming hour, is happily conceived and executed. Purchased by J. A. Wright, Esq. M. P. No. 149. Cynthia. W. Wood. MR. WOOD has, in this picture, painted a very beautiful countenance of some young lady, encircled by clouds. The head only appears: but this has abundance of attraction, from the accuracy of its outline, the sweetness of its expression, and the truth of its colouring. Purchased by Wm. Chamberlayne, Esq. Published by LONGMAN, HURST, REES, and ORME, Paternoster Row; J. HATCHARD, Bookseller to Her Majesty, 190, Piccadilly; and WILLIAM MILLER, Albemarle Street. THE DIRECTOR. No. 14. SATURDAY, APRIL 25, 1807. Nam et in ratione conviviorum, quamvis à plerisque cibis singuli temperemus, totam tamen cænam laudare omnes solemus: nec ea quæ stomachus noster recusat, adimunt gratiam illis à quibus capimur. Like guests at a feast, though each of us may leave most of the dishes untouched, we unite in commending the entertainment, altogether; nor do we allow those dishes which are not agreeable to our palates, to take away from the gratification of those which we relish. PLIN. EPIST. 5. 1. 11. IN prosecuting the order which has been adopted, in the 5th and 6th numbers of the Director, we meet with only two names under the second letter of the alphabet, which are of importance enough to be commemorated here. The first is BRYAXIS. THE works of this statuary were in such high estimation, that some have not scrupled to rank him with Phidias, Lysippus, aud Praxiteles. Many of his performances are specified in terms of exalted praise by Pliny. The principal of these were, an Esculapius, a Bacchus, an Apollo, a Pasiphae, &c.: Or the Apollo, the following anecdote is related. It was at Antioch, and of such extraordinary workmanship, that the Emperor Julian paid it divine honours, and consulted it as an oracle: not receiving any response, he foolishly conceived that it was because the relics of some Christian martyr were buried near the spot. He ordered them to be removed; on this very night fire from heaven consumed the statue. Julian believing this to be a contrivance of the Christians, put their ministers to the torture. |