Attempt > Volume 3

THE ATTEMPT. 71
While noticing Leslie's larger and better known works, we would not omit to
mention some of his small pictvires, less known, perhaps, but not less meritorious or
worthy of the great hand that produced them. Two or three of his single heads are
excellent, intensely characteristic, most delicately handled, and capitally painted.
Take, for example, the head " Portia ■" a most beautiful face, with deep, intelligent
eyes, and lustroiis black hair,—artistically simple, in a pure white robe, with an
emerald clasp on the shoulder. Or the small study, called "The Toilet; lady
examining a necklace." A charming girl, in morning deshabille, her elbows resting
on her toilet-table, her eyes lingering over the jewelled necklace she holds, with a
look that indicates a peculiar interest attachable to the jewels, which the artist meant
to suggest when he put this pretty little episode upon the canvas.
We must not linger longer over our friend Leslie, although we have not
nearly exhausted his works; but I fear I should be accused of great forgetfulness
were I to ignore the existence at South Kensington of his fine scene from
Don Quixote—" Sancho Panza and the Duchess." The gallant Sancho has been
ushered into the august presence;—there he sits, as demure as he can make him¬
self, but still with a sly twinkle in his merry eye, on a low seat, before the great
lady; she, however, right bravely attired, in jewels and satins, lounging on her
great chair on the raised dais; much amused, too, does she look, as she questions
the shoi-t, dumpy, comfortable little squire about his noble master,—the renowned
Don Qiiixote de la Mancha! At her right, in sober black robes, and snowy cap,
with folded hands, stands her old nurse, or duenna,—her smooth grey hair, and
faded, wrinkled face, contrasting strongly with the blooming cheeks and dark curling
locks of her young mistress; no breach of decorum or strict propriety could possibly
occui" in her presence, you may be sure ; yet, did she look round, and catch the broad
grin on the face of the merry mulatto girl leaning against the pillar yonder, I very
much fear she would be greatly scandalized thereby. With this final glance at this
set of pictures we must take our leave of our entertaining and clever artist.
Tliere are some few stray works, so to speak, at South Kensington, which are
well worth examining—some perfect gems of their kind, known all over England
as landmarks of art; such are Kosa Bonheur's " Horse Fair," Frith's " Derby Day,"
and Dyckman's " Blind Beggar." I suppose nearly everybody must have seen a print
of some sort of Frith's celebrated work; and all of us, as soon as we catch a glimpse