eminent artists of his day, together with the preceding sums, amounting to 215l. 5s., voted to him by the Society of Arts, must excite a blush upon the cheek of those who have trifled away their time, whilst it also acts as a stimulus to others, who are only commencing their career.
Mr. Thornton, a gentleman already mentioned in this work, who married a daughter of Bacon, had frequent conversations with his father-in-law, respecting the works of Roubiliac; particularly upon two of the six monuments erected in Westminster Abbey, viz. Mrs. Nightingale's, and that of the Duke of Argyle. Of the former, Mr. Bacon said, that, fine as it was, he considered it to be far inferior to that of the latter. The figure of Eloquence he looked upon as the finest specimen of Sculpture, and acknowledged its merit to be such, that he was sure he could never equal it. In his opinion of this figure, Mr. Bacon is not singular, as every person of taste who stands before it for five minutes will be convinced.[1]
- ↑ Canova spoke of Waterloo-bridge in the highest terms of approbation; and whenever he had occasion to speak of Sculpture, he declared that the figure of Eloquence, in Roubiliac's monument in Westminster Abbey, was the finest work of modern art which he had seen in this country.
