Recollections of the late William Beckford of Fonthill, Wilts and Lansdown, Bath | Page 4

He
seemed astonished, and stood still on the staircase. "Not true! What in
the world will they find out next? Garrick was present when my father
uttered it, heard the whole speech, repeated it word for word to me, and
what is more, acted it in my father's manner." "That is the portrait of
my great grandfather, Colonel Peter Beckford. It was painted by a
French artist, who went to Jamaica for the purpose, at the time he was
Governor of the island." It is a full length portrait, large as life, the
Colonel dressed in a scarlet coat embroidered richly with gold. There is
also a lovely portrait by Barker of the present Marquis of Douglas, Mr.
Beckford's grandson; it was painted when Lord Douglas was twelve or
thirteen years old. There is also a charming picture by Reynolds, two
beautiful little girls, full length and large as life, they are the present
Duchess of Hamilton and her sister, Mrs General Ord.
We now entered the lovely dining room, which in point of brilliancy
and cheerfulness has more the character of a drawing than of a dining
room. Opposite the window is an upright grand pianoforte. It is the
largest ever made, with the exception of its companion made at the
same time, and its richness and power of sound are very great. Over the
fire is what is seldom seen in a dining room, a large looking glass. The
paintings in this room have been valued at upwards of 20,000 pounds.
On the right as you enter are five pictures that once adorned the
Aldsbrandini Palace, namely, the St. Catherine by Raphael, a Claude, a
Garofalo, two by Ferrara, and several smaller ones. But how shall I
attempt to describe to you the St. Catherine? This lovely picture
combines all the refined elegance of the Venus de Medici, in form,
contour, and flowing lines, with an astonishing delicacy of colour, and
masterly yet softened execution. The eyes are turned upwards with an
expression of heavenly resignation, the neck, flesh and life itself, the
hands, arms, and shoulders so sweetly rounded, while the figure melts

into the background with the softness of Corregio.
And fills The air around with beauty, we inhale The ambrosial aspect,
which beheld instils Part of its immortality; the veil Of heaven is half
withdrawn, within the pale We stand, and in that form and face behold
What mind can make, when Nature's self would fail.
I can only convey to you a very slight idea of the impression produced
by the contemplation of this admirable painting. Such grace and
sweetness, such softness and roundness in the limbs. She seems the
most beautiful creature that ever trod this earthly planet; in short it is no
earthly beauty that we gaze upon, but the very beau ideal of Italian
loveliness.
Eve of the land which still is Paradise.
Italian beauty! didst thou not inspire Raphael? "How different," said Mr.
Beckford, "is that lovely creature from Mr. Etty's beauties. They are for
the most part of a meretricious character, would do well enough for a
mistress; but there," pointing to the St. Catherine, "there are personified
the modesty and purity a man would wish to have in a wife, and yet
Frenchmen find fault with it. C'est un assez joli tableau, say they, mais
la tete manque, de l'expression, si elle avait plus d'esprit, plus de
vivacite! Mais Raphael, il n'avait jamais passe les Alpes." We burst out
laughing, and I added, "Le pauvre Raphael quel dommage, de ne savoir
rien du grand. Monarque! ni de la grande nation." "Yet," I continued,
"there is a painter, Stotherd, who has come nearer to the great Italian, in
the grace and elegance of his women and children, than perhaps any
other, and merits well the proud appellation of the English Raphael.
What a shame that he never met with encouragement." "But I
understood that he was tolerably successful. He painted many things
for me at Fonthill. You are surely mistaken." "By no means," I replied.
"Latterly he seldom sold a picture, and supported himself on the paltry
income of 200 pounds a year, raised by making little designs for
booksellers. Yet what a noble painting is Chaucer's pilgrimage to
Canterbury." "It is indeed," said Mr. Beckford. "But, sir, there is
another painter, Howard, whose conceptions are most poetical. Do you
remember his painting at Somerset House in 1824, representing the

solar system, from Milton's noble lines--
Hither as to their fountain, other stars Repairing, in their golden urns
draw light?"
"I remember it perfectly; 'twas a most beautiful picture." "Milton's
original idea, that of the planets drawing light from their eternal source,
as water from a fountain, is certainly a glorious, a golden one; but who
beside Howard could have so