[Illustration: THE FAMILY PICTURE.]
_The Family Picture._--'My wife and daughters, happening to return a
visit to neighbour Flamborough's, found that family had lately got
their pictures drawn by a limner who travelled the country and took
likenesses for fifteen shillings a head. As this family and ours had
long a sort of rivalry in point of taste, our spirit took the alarm at
this stolen march upon us; and notwithstanding all I could say, and I
said much, it was resolved that we should have our pictures done too.
Having, therefore, engaged the limner--for what else could I do?--our
next deliberation was to show the superiority of our taste in the
attitudes. As for our neighbour's family, there were seven of them,
and they were drawn with seven oranges, a thing quite out of taste--no
variety in life, no composition in the world. We desired to have
something in a brighter style; and after many debates at length came to
a unanimous resolution of being drawn together in one large historical
family piece. This would be cheaper, since one frame would serve for
all, and it would be infinitely more genteel, for all families of any
taste were now drawn in the same manner. As we did not immediately
recollect an historical subject to hit us we were contented each with
being drawn as independent historical figures. My wife desired to
be represented as Venus, and the painter was desired not to be too
frugal of his diamonds in her stomacher and hair. Her two little ones
were to be as Cupids by her side; while I, in my gown and band, was
to present her with my books on the Whistonian controversy. Olivia
would be drawn as an Amazon, sitting on a bank of flowers, dressed
in a green joseph, richly laced with gold, and a whip in her hand.
Sophia was to be a shepherdess, with as many sheep as the painter could
put in for nothing; and Moses was to be dressed out with a hat and
white feather. Our taste so much pleased the Squire that he insisted
on being put in as one of the family, in the character of Alexander
the Great, at Olivia's feet. This was considered by us all as an
indication of his desire to be introduced into the family; nor could
we refuse his request. The painter was therefore set to work; and as
he wrought with assiduity and expedition, in less than four days the
whole was completed. The piece was large, and it must be owned he did
not spare his colours, for which my wife gave him great encomiums. We
were all perfectly satisfied with his performance; but an unfortunate
circumstance had not occurred till the picture was finished, which now
struck us with dismay. It was so very large that we had no place in
the house to fix it. How we all came to disregard so material a point
is inconceivable; but certain it is we had been all greatly remiss.
The picture, therefore, instead of gratifying our vanity, as we hoped,
leaned in a most mortifying manner against the kitchen wall, where the
canvas was stretched and painted, much too large to be got through any
of the doors, and the jest of all our neighbours. One compared it to
Robinson Crusoe's longboat, too large to be removed; another thought it
more resembled a reel in a bottle; some wondered how it could be got
out, but still more were amazed how it got in.'
* * * * *
THE DANCE OF LIFE: A POEM.
_By the Author of 'Doctor Syntax' (William Coombe)._
ILLUSTRATED WITH TWENTY-SIX COLOURED ENGRAVINGS BY THOMAS ROWLANDSON.
LONDON: PUBLISHED BY R. ACKERMANN, REPOSITORY OF ARTS, 101 STRAND. 8vo.
'_Advertisement._--The eight monthly numbers to which this work
was limited being completed, it is presented to the public in an
accumulated volume. Though an acquaintance has taken place between
the artist and the writer, the same principle has in a great degree,
if not altogether, predominated in the originality of the designs and
attendant illustrations of them as produced the _Tour of Doctor Syntax_
and the _Dance of Death_.'
ILLUSTRATIONS.
Frontispiece.--_The Dance of Life_; a panoramic scroll, on which
Rowlandson's pictures which illustrate the series are represented in
miniature. Father Time, with his accessories of scythe, hourglass, and
globe, is acting as showman and pointing out the subjects of the work
to a group of spectators, whose faces and attitudes are expressive of
the admiration and interest which the pictorial history is exciting.
Titlepage.--The vignette of a lightly touched and gracefully drawn
female dancing figure, with a scarf airily floating from her shoulders.
The nymph is encircled by a ring of pretty children, hand in hand, who
are dancing round her; while roses are scattered at the feet of the
group.