Drawn and Engraved, by IConde, from a Model of TBanks.

T. BANKS. SCULPTOR R.A.

[WITH A PORTRAIT. ]

With hope, or fear, or love, by turns,
The Marble leaps, or fhrinks, or burns,
As SCULPTURE waves her hand:
The varying Paffions of the Mind,
Her faithful handmaids are affign'd,
And rife or fall by her command.
When Life's exhaufted lamps expire,

When finks to duft this mortal frame,
She, like PROMETHEUS, grafps the fire,
Her touch revives the lambent flame :

While, phoenix-like, the Statefiman, Bard, or Sage,
Spring freth to life, and breathe through ev'ry age.

SCULPTURE attained to a degree of

excellence among the Greeks, which the fucceeding ages of the world have never reached. Such a triumph of Grecian over Modern Art may, perhaps, be naturally afcribed to a genial climate, that gave fuch a temperament of body as tended to produce fine fenfations; to a language of great ftrength, copioufnefs, and harmony; to the public honours bestowed on the cultivators of literature; to the emulation excited among the young men, by exhibitions of their works at the foleni Games; to a contempt of the arts of lucre and commerce, which to much engrofs and debafe the minds of the Moderns; and above all, to an exemption from loading their natural faculties with learning and languages, with which we in these latter times are obliged to qualify ourselves, if we afpire to the fame of taste and literature. It may be alfo added, that thofe difeafes which are fo deftructive of beauty were unknown to the Greeks. There is not the leaft hint of the fmall-pox to be found in the writings of their physicians; and Homer, whofe portraits are always drawn with much truth and precision,

mentions not one face that had fuffered

from the indented marks of that disorder. Other complaints now fo hoftile to the exterior beauty of the human form, had not yet a name.

In Greece, the Artist enjoyed nature without a veil; the Gymnafies, where, fheltered by public modefty, the youth exercifed themfelves naked, were the Schools of Art. These a Phidias would frequent to improve himself by such a spectacle ;there he studied the elasticity of the mufcles, the ever-varying motions of the frame, the outlines of the finest forms, or the contour left by the young wrestler on the fand. Here naked beauty appeared with fuch a lively expreffion, fuch truth and variety of fituation, and fuch an air of dignity, as it would be ridiculous to expect, and indeed hopeless to find, in any hired model of our Academies. Befides, the fairest youths danced undressed on the theatre, and Sophocles himself, when young, was the firft who dared in this manner to entertain his fellow-citizens. Phryne went to bathe at the Eleufinian Games, expofed to the eyes of all Greece, and, rifing from the water, became the Y 2

model

model of Venus Anadyomene. Even, on certain folemnities, the young Spartan maidens did not hesitate to join in the public dances in the finiple drets of nature. A religion whofe deities confifted of the perionined paffions, and the reprefentation of which called forth the most enthufiaftic exertions of sculpture, was another very commanding advantage to aid the decided predominance poffefled by the Sculptors of Greece. Their works, even in a nutilated itate, are ftill confidered as models of proportion, beauty, and character; are contemplated with enthufiaftic veneration, and imitated as examples which at the fame time teach and infpire the excellence of the modern chifel. Bernini, however, formed a falfe notion of grace; and the genius of Michael Angelo seems almoft to have defpifed it; though grace, fimple grace alone, places the remains of ancient art, even of a fecondary merit, above the finest productions of thofe great men.

If Italy, therefore, with advantages, in fome particulars, fimilar to thofe of Greece, cannot, in any degree, rival the models of ancient fculpture, which the tooth of time, the ravages of war and barbarian fanaticiim has fpared her, it cannot be a matter for aftonishment that Sculpture has made but few advances to excellence in this country, where there is fo little local advantage, and, till the prefent period, fo little encouragement given to the fine arts, and whofe very climate has been faid to be too cold for ftatues.

Britain may, however, at length boast an Artist, who rivals, if he does not furpafs, the fift Sculptors of any country of the prefent period. Mr. BANKS has in his works, and for the honour of British taste and patronage, there ought to have been many more of them, produced examples of his kill, which afford us every reafon to expect, that Sculpture will, at length, be naturalized in, and give fplendour to, the rifing School of British

Arts.

The Monument to the memory of Sir Eyre Coole, in Westminster Abbey, is the work of Mr. Banks; and, without degrading the best fepulchral marbles in that magnificent mausoleum of British Werthies, we do not hesitate to pronounce its decided fuperiority The whole compotion of the piece is fimple, grand, and of admirable connection. The figure of Victory is finely conceived, and executed with the truth and spirit of a great mafter. But the MAHRATTA CAPTIVE and here we make a paufe, not with doubt as to the meature of praise we fhall beftow, but

from the powerful effect which the bare remembrance of the figure has upon the mind of the writer-is the most original, as well as the finest fepulchral ftatue of modern, or, perhaps, of any times. One touch more of the chifel, and there would have been too much :-one touch less, and there would have been too little. It is an example of that fmall, nice, indistinct line by which Natures divides completeness from fuperfluity. Never, furely, did the monumental alabafter wear a form fo perfect, fo appropriate, fo affecting. It is a confummate work, and combines all the powers of a fuperior mind. It is perfectly original, and therefore proves invention;it poffeffes that harmony of various parts which constitutes beauty; it discovers that manly ftrength, freedoni and steadiness of hand which denote fuperior execution; and in the fedate dignified character of its grief, there is diftinguished a genuine characteristic grace and fimplicity. In fhort, the genius of Mr. Banks, and it belongs only to a genius of the first order to do fuch things, has given the true attribute of nature, and of the most difficult execution, to this aftonishing breaft.

Grace, fimplicity, and fepulchral effect, are finely expreffed and fully produced by the monument erected in the church of St. Mary Le Bow to the memory of Dr. Newton, Bifhop of Bristol. The figures are beautifully characteristic, and would not fail to produce the moft folemn im preffions in the mind of the contemplative beholder, even if it were not their office to guard the remains of worth, learning, and piety, which repose beneath them.

The ftatue reprefenting Filial Affection, the model of which was in the last year's Exhibition of the Royal Academy, and is defigned to give a mournful grace to a Mauloleum in Ireland, is another charming example of the skill with which this Artift can perfonify the finest fentiments of the human heart."

Sculpture, indeed, in this country, has hitherto been almost exclufively confined to the Tomb and the Chimney-piece. But with a fpirit which at the fame time gives vigour and dignity to all their undertakings, the BOYDELLS have called the genius of Mr BANKS to adorn their SHAKSPEARE GALLERY.-They have fummoned the firft fculptor of their country to decorate with his art the diftinguished edifice which contains the works of the first painters of it; and we may furely indulge a fentiment beyond a mere folitary hope, that this eminent Artist will be eagerly em ployed by the rich and great to enrich

their palaces with the beauties of his fculpture.

The Alto Relievo on the front of the SHAKSPEARE GALLERY is a proud example of British Art: nor do we express more than our honeft impreffions on the reiterated examination of it, when we confider it, in the beauty and appropriation of its defign, as well as the power of its execution, as the most perfect piece of fculpture that has yet been produced by a native of Great Britain. We shall even add an opinion, that if it were placed on a public building in ROME, it would not fail to command the admiration of men whofe eyes are accustomed to behold the fineft remains, and perhaps the noblest exertions of Grecian fculpture. The figure of Shakspeare must be confidered as a portrait. The fimilitude to former ftatues and pictures of the poet has, therefore, been a neceffary object of attention; but the genius of the Sculptor has fuper- added a characteristic dignity to the figure, and very fkilfully applied itself to the management of a drefs, which, though effential to the coftume, is by no means calculated to display the graces of the chifel. The figures of Poetry and Painting are of the moft chafte and beautiful defign.-Democritus recommends artifts to ray to the Gods that they may meet only with aufpi

cious images; and from the forms under our confideration, we might prefume that Mr. Banks had offered fuch prayers, and that they had been granted. The contour, that perfection of the Antients, reigns in every part of the figures which is covered with drapery; and their beautiful frames feem to pierce the marble, as if it were no more than a tranfparent vefture.

Though the works of Mr. BANKS, aş we have already obferved, are by no means fo numerous as his pre-eminent merit deferves, we might, if it were neceflary, continue to enumerate a few more of them which are of fuperior excellence. It is fufficient, however, for our prefent purpofe, to point out fuch of his fculptures as are more immediately beneath the infpection of the public. He has already done enough for his fame, if he has not for his fortune. We truft it is impoffible but that fuch a genius as he is known to poffefs, muft continue to be employed whereever the powers of fculpture are wanting for memorials of the dead, or the splendour of the living. Mr. Banks may, however, poffefs this confolation, that if he were never more to take up his chifel, he has already attained the first rank among the artifts of his age and country.

(See an account of Mr. BANKS in the European Mag. of July 1790, p. 23.)

ANECDOTES of the PITT FAMILY.

THOMAS PITT, efq. grandfather of the late Earl of Chatham, and great-grandfather of the prefent Prime Minifter, was born at Blandford, in the county of Dorfet. His family was a very ancient and refpectable one, which had been long feated in that county. In the latter part of the last century, he went to the East Indies, and was fome time Governor of Fort St. George, then the chief fettlement there. In that fituation he acquired the great fortune, great at least for the time, which he poffeffed, and which it appears he employed, on his return to England, in a manner greatly to his honour. About the year 1709 or 1710, he quitted his fituation at Fort St. George, and was fucceeded by a brother of the celebrated Mr. Addifon †. In the year 1711 we find him returned to England, and fettled at his native place; where, at the expence of 100l. he almoft rebuilt the Church, except the tower, and neatly paved and pewed the whole, adding alfo a north aifle for his burial-place.

* See Hutchins's Dorsetshire, vol. i. p. 54. Literary Relicks, 1789, p. 396.

At the entrance of this aisle is placed the following infcription :

To the Glory of God,
THO. PITT, Eiq. of this place,
In the year of our Lord 1711,
Very much repaired and beautified this
Church;

Dedicating his fubftance to his Maker
In that place where he himself was first
Dedicated to his service.

In this pious action
He is alone his own example and copy;
This being but one fpecimen of many of

the like nature.

Thus, by building God's houfes, He has wifely laid a moft fure foundation for his own;

And by honouring the name of the Al-
mighty, has

Tranfmitted himself to pofterity,
By fuch actions as deferve, not only this
perifhing
Regifter, but alio to be had in everlasting
Remembrance.

In

In 1716 he was made Governor of Jamaica, but refigned that poft in 1717. He was Member of Parliament in the third, fourth, fifth, and fixth, Parliaments of Great Britain, for Old Sarum and Thirfk. Befides the Church of Blandford St. Mary, he repaired and beautified, at his own expence, that of Stratford, in Wiltshire, and rebuilt Abbotston, in Hampshire. He died April 28, 1726, and was buried at Blandford.

The most extraordinary incident in this Gentleman's life was, his obtaining and difpoting of the celebrated diamond which is ftill called by his name. It was purchased by him, during the time he was Governor of Fort St. George, for 48,000 pagodas, i. e. 20,400l. fterling, instead of 200,000, which the feller firit afked for it. It was configned to Sir Stephen Evance, Knt. in London, in the fhip Bedford, Captain John Hudfon, Commander, by a bill of lading, dated March 8, 1701-2, and charged to the Captain at 6500 pagodas only. It was reckoned the largest jewel in Europe, and weighed one hundred and twenty-feven carats. When polifhed, it was as big as a pullet's egg. The cuttings amounted to eight or ten thousand pounds *.

"I am well informed," fays Mr. Jefferys t, it was fold for 135,000l. to the Duke of Orleans ‡, on account of the French King, I think about the year 1717 ; but 5000l. thereof was given and Ipent in negociating the fale of it. Now admit

130,000l. which is but 9031. 18s. gd. above 71. per carat.

"And this is a price much below its real worth, even at this time, in which diamonds bear not the value they did then ; inafinuch as 81 per carat is now the price of a ftone of the mean or middle fort, not burthened with a ufelefs and hurtful weight; therefore it being valued fo much below one of that degree of goodness cannot be just, although it hath so much exuberant weight, if what is generally faid of it be true, which is, that it ap proaches near to one of the first water, and hath only a small foul or fpot in it, and that lying in fuch a manner as not to be difcerned when the ftone is fet. Wherefore I judge it may be rated at leaft at 81. per carat, which will make its prefent weight amount to 149,609). 10s. and I conceive it will not be over-valuing it to estimate it at 150,000l."

It appears, that the acquifition of this diamond occafioned many reflections injurious to the honour of Governor Pitt; and Mr. Pope has been thought to have had the infinuations then floating in the world in his mind when he wrote the following lines:

"Afleep and naked as an Indian lay,

An honest factor ftole a gem away: "He pledg'd it to the Knight; the "Knight had wit;

"So kept the di'mond, and the rogue was "bit."

Thefe reports, however, never obtained much credit, though they were loud enough to reach the ears of the perfon against whom they were directed, who condefcended to vindicate himself against the afperfions thrown out upon him. This vindication is faid to have been completely fatisfactory §.

ting it was fold for 135,000l. it is rating the stone but at 71. 5s. od. per carat, with an overplus of 6281. 135. od. which any one may know that is acquainted with the rule exhibited in the treatife. Again, the workmanship of the ftore coft 5000l. fo the diamond itfelf was fold but for *It feems, according to Laffels, to have been more valuable than the Great Duke of Tufcany's diamond, which was thought to have been the finett in Europe, almost an inch thick, weighing one hundred and thirty-eight carats, and worth between jeweller and jeweller 100 000 crowns, and between Prince and Prince 150,000 crowns. Both thefe were much exceeded by a diamond brought in 1746 from the Biafils to the King of Portugal, which weighed 1680 carats and a half, and was valued at 224,000,000l. sterling. + Abstract of the fecond edition of the Treatife on Diamonds and Pearls.

It is faid in a late Writer, that the Regent hesitated at an expence which the revenue did not feem in a condition to hear. But St. Simon represented to him, "That it was below the dignity of the King of France to be deterred by the price from purchafing a piece which, as being fingular in its kind, was of inettimable value, and would be an honour to the Crown to poffefs." Arquetil's Memoirs of the Court of France, vol. ii. p. 351. This Writer alfa fays, that the diamond weighed more than five hundred grains, was of the fize of a large plum, perfectly white, without spot, and of an admirable water. Two millions were paid for it, and the feller was allowed to keep the filings. As the fum could not be paid in ready money, intereft was given.

In the Daily Poft, Nov. 3, 1743, is a vindication of Mr. Pitt, which mentions, that he had frequent dealings with the merchant who fold him the diamond after that tranfaction; «nu when he quitted India he left a confiderable fum of money in his hands. We should be obliged to any of our correspondents for the loan of that newspaper.

At