England -- Social life and customs -- 19th century; Great Britain -- History -- William IV, 1830-1837
" Salaries of receiver, check-taker, and placard
men 25 19 0
" Sundries, including carriage, insurance, postage,
magnifying-glasses, stationery, &c. 8 5 4
------------
108 17 11
------------
Cr. by admissions £71 11_s._; catalogues sold £7 1_s._ 78 12 0
------------ -----------
Loss on exhibition £30 5 11
"Reflect on this, ye directors of public taste and opinion, opera
goers, _déjeuné_ doers, and ostentatious patrons of virtu. The
exhibition of a single little mediocre picture, with a big name,
'The Chapeau de Paille,'[21] cleared, by your indiscriminate,
gregarious appreciation, about twelve hundred guineas! The Tam
O'Shanter Stone Works, between three and four thousand! While
eighty groups of the most unique and exquisite gems of art in
Europe, the achievements of English artists, and wholly devoted
to British charity, realizes, by three months exhibition, a loss
of £30 5_s._ 11_d._! to say nothing of considerable personal
expenses, and the sacrifice of immense mental and physical
exertion. If this be not disgusting, if it be not an eternal
disgrace, if it fail to rouse deep indignation, and to justify
the bitterest contempt, then what can, or ought? Would anomalies
so odious have happened in Dublin or Edinburgh? In Paris,
Brussels, or Amsterdam? In Berlin, Vienna, Moscow, or St.
Petersburgh? In Rome, Naples, Madrid, or even Lisbon? Would such
barbarous and heartless apathy to genius and humanity be evinced
in Algiers, America, Hayti, or, in short, by any people on earth,
but the 'most thinking,' absurd seeking, flea-hunting dilettanti
of the British Metropolis? So much for Royal and aristocratic
patronage; so much for the schoolmaster at home; his boasted
'march of intellect,' 'penny' intelligence, discernment,
patriotism, and benevolence, forsooth!"
[Footnote 21: Now in the National Gallery: bought by the trustees from
the late Sir Robert Peel.]
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