Non-Fiction > Books > London, 1887 - Virginibus Puerisque, and other papers

210 Some Portraits by Raeburjt
works, it was too large not to contain some
that were indifferent, whether as works of art
or as portraits. Certainly the standard was
remarkably high, and was wonderfully main-
tained, but there were one or two pictures
that might have been almost as well away —
one or two that seemed wanting in salt, and
some that you can only hope were not suc-
cessful likenesses. Neither of the portraits
of Sir Walter Scott, for instance, were very
agreeable to look upon. You do not care to
think that Scott looked quite so rustic and
puffy. And where is that peaked forehead
which, according to all written accounts and
many portraits, was the distinguishing char-
acteristic of his face ? Again, in spite of his
own satisfaction and in spite of Dr. John
Brown, I cannot consider that Raeburn was
very happy in hands. Without doubt, he
could paint one if he had taken the trouble
to study it ; but it was by no means always
that he gave himself the trouble. Looking
round one of these rooms hung about with
his portraits, you were struck with the array