productions of his pencil to render his name immortal. *

ever it may be worth) the testimony of the editor also. Let this plain tale, therefore, for ever seal up the lips of those who have presumed most injuriously to sully and depreciate the literary reputation of a man, who is acknowledged by the unanimous voice of his contemporaries to have been a signal ornament of the age in which he lived; who was not less profound in the theory, than excellent in the practice, of his art; and whose admirable works, of each kind, will transmit his name with unfading lustre to the latest posterity.

* Some years after the publication of the first seven of the Discourses, the Author had the honour to receive from the late Empress of Russia, a gold box with a basso relievo of Her Imperial Majesty in the lid, set round with diamonds; accompanied with a note within, written with her own hand, containing these words: "Pour le Chevalier Reynolds, en temoignage du contentement que j'ai ressentie à la lecture de ses excellens Discours sur la peinture." Before he received this mark of Her Imperial Majesty's favour, he had been commissioned to paint an Historical Picture for her, on any subject that he thought fit. The subject which he chose was, The Infant Hercules strangling the Serpents. For this picture, which is now at St. Petersburgh, his executors received from Her Imperial Majesty fifteen hundred guineas.

The first seven of the Discourses have been translated into French, and I believe into Italian; and doubtless a 'complete translation of all our author's works, in each of those languages, will soon appear.

To the fame of the Academy the President from its first institution contributed not a little, by exhibiting every year a considerable number of his admirable performances *; and he so highly respected Mr. Moser, to whose unwearied endeavours he conceived this excellent Institution in a great degree owed its establishment, that on his death, in 1783, he honoured his memory by a public testimonial, which probably appeared in some newspaper of the day, and so well deserves a more permanent repository, that I shall give it a place below. †

* Between 1769 and 1790, inclusive, he exhibited at the Royal Academy, two hundred and forty-four pictures; at the Exhibitions previous to the institution of the Academy, between 1760 and 1768, twenty-five. Total 269. In the whole of this period, the year 1767 was the only one in which he exhibited nothing.

+ I know not where this eulogy originally appeared; probably, however, it was published in some of the daily papers. It is now printed from a copy in our author's hand-writing:

Jan. 24. 1783.

"Yesterday died at his apartments in Somerset-place,

What were the methods by which this great painter attained to such consummate

George Michael Moser, Keeper of the Royal Academy; aged seventy-eight years. He was a native of Switzerland, but came to England very young, to follow the profession of a chaser in gold, in which art he has been always considered as holding the first rank. But his skill was not confined to this alone; he possessed a universal knowledge in all the branches of painting and sculpture, which perfectly qualified him for the place that he held in the Academy, the business of which principally consists in superintending and instructing the Students, who draw or model from the antique figures.

"His private character deserves a more ample testimony than this transient memorial. Few have passed a more inoffensive, or perhaps a more happy life; if happiness or the enjoyment of life consists in having the mind always occupied, always intent upon some useful art, by which fame and distinction may be acquired. Mr. Moser's whole attention was absorbed either in the practice, or something that related to the advancement, of art. He may truly be said in every sense to have been the FATHER of the present race of Artists; for long before the Royal Academy was established, he presided over the little Societies which met first in Salisbury-court, and afterwards in St. Martin's Lane, where they drew from living models. Perhaps nothing that can be said, will more strongly imply his amiable disposition, than that all the different Societies with which he has been connected have always turned their eyes upon him for their Treasurer and chief Manager; when perhaps they would not have

excellence in his profession, it is now, I fear, too late to inquire; yet as I find

contentedly submitted to any other authority. His early society was composed of men whose names are well known in the world; such as Hogarth, Rysbrach, Roubiliac, Wills, Ellis, Vanderbank, &c.

"Though he had outlived all the companions of his youth, he might to the last have boasted of a succession equally numerous; for all that knew him were his friends.

"When he was appointed Keeper of the Royal Academy, his conduct was exemplary, and worthy to be imitated by whoever shall succeed him in that office. As he loved the employment of teaching, he could not fail of discharging that duty with diligence. By the propriety of his conduct he united the love and respect of the Students: he kept order in the Academy, and made himself respected without the austerity or importance of office; all noise and tumult immediately ceased on his appearance; at the same time there was nothing forbidding in his manner, which might restrain the pupils from freely applying to him for advice or assistance.

"All this excellence had a firm foundation: he was a man of sincere and ardent piety, and has left an illustrious example of the exactness with which the subordinate duties may be expected to be discharged by him, whose first care is to please GOD.

"He has left one daughter behind him, who has distinguished herself by the admirable manner in which she paints and composes Pieces of Flowers, of which many

among his papers a few slight hints upon this subject, in which he speaks of his merits and defects with that candour which strongly marked his character, though they are only detached thoughts, and did not receive his final revision and correction, I am unwilling suppress them :

to

"Not having the advantage of an early academical education, I never had the facility of drawing the naked figure, which an artist ought to have. It appeared to me too late, when I went to Italy and began to feel 'my own deficiencies, to endeavour to acquire that readiness of invention which I observed others to possess. I consoled myself, however, by remarking that these ready inventors are extremely apt to acquiesce in imperfection; and that if I had not their facility, I

samples have been seen in the Exhibitions. She has had the honour of being much employed in this way by their Majesties, and for her extraordinary merit has been received into the Royal Academy."