of the picture is imposing; the general effect powerful, and well suited to the subject; the incidents and grouping well conceived; the colouring good, and in parts brilliant. The Christ is weak, probably the weakest, though the chief figure in the picture." Misfortune still dogged the painter. He was thrown into prison for debt; released, he worked in poverty, afraid of his "wicked-eyed, wrinkled, waddling, gin-drinking, dirty-ruffled landlady." The closing scenes of his life grew darker and darker. In 1826, he painted _Venus and Anchises_, on commission, began _Alexander taming Bucephalus_, and _Euclus_, and was once more in prison. An appeal in the newspapers produced money enough to set him again at liberty. Then appeared the _Mock Election_, and _Chairing the Member_, the former being purchased by the King. No success, however, seemed to stem the tide of Haydon's misfortunes. He lectured on Art with great ability in 1840, continued painting for bread, and finally, disgusted by the cold reception of _Aristides_, and _Nero watching the Burning of Rome_, the over-wrought mind of the unfortunate man gave way, and he committed suicide, leaving this brief entry in his journal--"God forgive me! Amen. Finis. B. R. Haydon. 'Stretch me no longer on the rack of this sad world.'--_Lear_." A sad finish to his ambitious hopes! Of Haydon's art generally Mr. Redgrave says: "He was a good anatomist and draughtsman, his colour was effective, the treatment of his subject and conception were original and powerful; but his works have a hurried and incomplete look, his finish is coarse, sometimes woolly, and not free from vulgarity." [Illustration: THE DANGEROUS PLAYMATE. _By_ ETTY. A.D. 1833. _In the National Gallery._]