The collected works of William Hazlitt, Vol. 08 (of 12)Hazlitt, William
General
The collected works of William Hazlitt, Vol. 08 (of 12)
Hazlitt, William
English essays -- 19th century
The continuing the red colour of the hair into the back of
the chair, has been pointed out as one of those instances of what may be
termed alliteration in colouring, of which these pictures are every
where full. The gross bloated appearance of the Italian singer is well
relieved by the hard features of the instrumental performer behind him,
which might be carved of wood. The negro-boy holding the chocolate, both
in expression, colour, and execution, is a masterpiece. The gay, lively
derision of the other negro-boy playing with the Acteon, is an ingenious
contrast to the profound amazement of the first. Some account has
already been given of the two lovers in this picture. It is curious to
observe the infinite activity of mind which the artist displays on every
occasion. An instance occurs in the present picture. He has so contrived
the papers in the hair of the bride, as to make them look almost like a
wreath of half-blown flowers; while those which he has placed on the
head of the musical amateur, very much resemble a _cheveux-de-fris_ of
horns, which adorn and fortify the lack lustre expression, and mild
resignation of the face beneath.
The Night Scene is inferior to the rest of the series. The attitude of
the husband, who is just killed, is one in which it would be impossible
for him to stand or even to fall. It resembles the loose pasteboard
figures they make for children. The characters in the last picture, in
which the wife dies, are all masterly. I would particularly refer to the
captious, petulant, self-sufficiency of the Apothecary, whose face and
figure are constructed on exact physiognomical principles; and to the
fine example of passive obedience and non-resistance in the servant,
whom he is taking to task, and whose coat, of green and yellow livery,
is as long and as melancholy as his face. The disconsolate look and
haggard eyes, the open mouth, the comb sticking in the hair, the broken
gapped teeth, which, as it were, hitch in an answer, every thing about
him denotes the utmost perplexity and dismay. The harmony and gradations
of colour in this picture are uniformly preserved with the greatest
nicety, and are well worthy the attention of the artist.—I have so far
attempted to point out the fund of observation, physical and moral,
contained in one set of these pictures, the _Marriage-a-la-Mode_. The
rest would furnish as many topics to descant upon, were the patience of
the reader as inexhaustible as the painter’s invention. But as this is
not the case, I shall content myself with barely referring to some of
those figures in the other pictures, which appear to me the most
striking, and which we see not only while we are looking at them, but
which we have before us at all other times. For instance, who, having
seen, can easily forget that exquisite frost-piece of religion and
morality, the antiquated Prude in the Morning Scene; or that striking
commentary on the _good old times_, the little wretched appendage of a
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
Reviews
Reviews
No reviews yet
Be the first to share your thoughts on this work.
Elsewhere in the archive
Join the Discussion
Join the discussion
Sign in to leave a comment or review.
Sign InorCreate an account