THE PICK OF THE R.A. PICTURES.
| No. 37. The Knight of the Graceful Curve. See remarkable figure in George E. Robertson's picture. | No. 17. The Hare Apparent trying to study a part under considerable difficulties, as shown in Nos. 18 and 19. (Vide Notes, p. 215.) |
No. 220. Queen of Golf Clubs. "'I'm
going a golfing, Sir, she said.' You
see I've Gotch 'em in my hand." T. C. Gotch. |
| No. 159. Mr. Henry Irving in his Dressing-room studying a New Part. Sir F. Leighton, Bart., P.R.A. | No. 470. Worse Halves coming Home. A Half-vest Scene. It is called "The Army of Peace," but it seems to be "An Army in Pieces." F. W. Loring. |
Nos. 586 (by Louis Falero), 590 (by St. George Hare), 591 (encore Falero). Awkward Position of an Unprofessional Sitter at a Studio when the Models have arrived, but the Artist hasn't yet turned up.
| No. 217. The New Toy. Little Tottie's Mechanical Bird. Sir J. E. Millais, Bart., R.A. | No. 131. The Sea Serpent! Caught at last!! General rejoicings!!! Frank Dicksee, R.A. | No. 218. His First Cigar. G. F. Watts, R.A. |
No. 375. Disturbed by Wopses. Arthur Hacker.
No. 18. John Hare, Esq., as seen and painted by Sir John E. Millais, Bart., R.A., "The Hare Apparent"—to every spectator. But what an unpleasant position! The eminent Actor is either studying a part, or has the Box-office account-book in his hand, and wants a quiet moment for serious thought or close calculation; and yet, in the next room to him (No. 19), one of Mr. Orchardson's young ladies is singing and playing a yellow chrome-atic scale, and in the room overhead (No. 17), Mr. Nettleship's tiger has broken loose, and is taking a bath. When rescued from these surroundings, this will remain at home a Hare-loominous picture for the family.
No. 28. "Toe-Toe chez Ta-Ta." Miss Toetoe, in blue, at work and looking down, says to the other girl, Tata, who is maliciously smiling at her, "Oh dear! I do hope that no one will look at my right thumb or my toes! O Mr. Woods, A., why was my right thumb left like this?"
No. 34. In this Mr. Morley Fletcher shows us a Female Martyr in Tomartyr-coloured dress, preparatory to being taken off to the Auto da fé.
No. 45. "An Undress Rehearsal" Stuart G. Davis.
No. 49. "On the Temple Steps." By John Griffiths. For years we've known that Griffiths is "the safe man" to follow. But, unless this is a work of pure imagination, anyone well acquainted with the Temple Pier and the Temple Steps will naturally ask, "Where are the Steam-boats?"
Nos. 51, 52, and 53. The first is a Harmony in Sea by Mr. Henry Moore, A., and the second is Mr. Miller's—(William not Joseph Miller)—Colonel Hornsby-Drake. This Drake seems out of his element, as he ought to have been floating about with the wild fowl that belong naturally to the picture below.
Nos. 63-66.
"Four little whitey boys out for a run,
Ate early greeny food. Then there were none!"
Painted by Amy Sawyer. "Not a work of imagination, my dear little boys, because you were seen by Amy—that is, Amy saw yer!"
No. 70. Study in Pâtisserie. Design for a chocolate ornament covered with sugar. Recommended by Messrs. Clark and Hamilton.
No. 71. Lion in Desert. Very tame. Mr. Herbert Dicksee.
No. 76. The New Skirt Dance. ∴ We strongly recommend the study of this picture to admirers of the "Skirt Dance." It shows how one of the male sex may attempt it—that is, according to the idea of the designer, Herbert Dicksee.
No. 88. Colonel W. Barnardiston. "First Chairman of West Suffolk County Council." Painted by Hubert Herkomer, R.A. If he is "First Chairman," it doesn't matter what he is afterwards, since he has been immortalised by the admirable painting of Hubert Herkomer. He'll remain "First Chairman" in the Dramatis Personæ of this year's Catalogue, at all events, and be H. H.'s "Perpetual First Chairman," too, be the other where he may.
No. 103. "Elder Bush." By H. W. B. Davis, R.A. From the title you might expect it to be the portrait of a Presbyterian "Elder" named "Bush." But it isn't. Look at it. It is the sweetest, most natural, perfectest of charming "bits" of rural Nature in the whole show. There's no beating about this bush; in fact this Elder Bush is one that is very hard to beat.
No. 130. His Grace the Duke of Devonshire. Encore! Bravo, Mr. Hubert Herkomer. You're are a-going it this year, you are, Sir! You've given the Duke all his Grace, and there's a kind of orange tint about him, which, just now, is not without its political signification.
No. 132. We must go to Kennington (T. B. Kennington) to see "The Queen of Love." She is sitting on a tiger's skin, and has her hand on the head of the savage beast, which shows its fangs. "A fang-see subject," says 'Arry Joker.
No. 158. Honeymooners. "Here we are again!" Same kind of Stone Fruit from Marcus Stone, R.A. "Sparkles this Stone as it was wont!"—Cymbeline. ii., 4. [To be continued in our next.
Among the Immortals at the Royal Academy Banquet Last Saturday.—H.R.H. made one of his usually happy speeches; the Duke of Cambridge, the Earl of Rosebery, and Lord Herschell represented the comedy element; while Lord Kelvin and Mr. Leslie Stephen were perfect in what, theatrically speaking, is termed "the heavy lead;" and certainly their speeches were—ahem!—weighty. Pretty to note how His Scarlet-robed Eminence entered the room, not only with a grace all his own, but with His Grace of Canterbury as well. Never was the President, Sir Frederick Leighton, more effective in all his speeches, and especially when replying to the toast of "The Academy," where the perfection of his speech lay in the subtle concealment of its art, and in the genuine earnestness of his advice to students urbi et orbi.
Sporting Answer (Garden).—Tottie: The flower you have forwarded to us is not a flower at all. It is an East African rhinoceros. We have returned it as requested, by parcel post.