Of the importance of Portraits generally I have spoken at sufficient length (page 404); but those of authors have naturally a special attraction for the lovers of literature. When the gem is so precious, we are apt to believe that the casket must be, in some degree, worthy of it; and the wish is natural,—though in accomplishment too often unsatisfactory—to know in the flesh those writers with whose minds we have already become familiar through their books. That there is no faith to be put in faces is an old axiom; but one against which we instinctively act. We think that there must be a certain correspondence between the man and his book; and that, from either, we are able to predicate what the other will be. Thus the portraits of the learned may be studied with advantage, not only as matters of art and curiosity, but as enabling us to gain therefrom some further apprehension and elucidation of their minds and writings; "latentem enim ingenii vim,"—says the learned Bartholinus,—"et genium scriptorum ex imaginibus et vultu dijudicamus."
The interest and value of these sketches by Maclise have long been known to artists and literary men. Thus, the separate numbers of the Magazine containing them have been eagerly sought for, and are rarely to be met with now at the book-stalls. Some few ardent collectors have succeeded, with no small expenditure of time, labour and money, in forming complete sets;[1] while others, of smaller means, or less enthusiastic temper, have been fain to content themselves with occasional reference, as need suggested, to the eight volumes of Fraser, in public libraries. From these, however, many of the portraits have been eliminated by unscrupulous "Illustrators;" and some of the single numbers, from the special interest of certain plates,—as, for instance, that containing the "Fraserian" cartoon, which the Graphic stated to be on that account absolutely "priceless,"—have become of the utmost rarity. It was thus thought, that the collection and reproduction of the entire series within the compass of a single portable volume, accompanied by such illustration as biographical memoirs, and some few of the more typical and salient pieces of the time might afford, could hardly fail to obtain a wide
- ↑ In one of the catalogues, for 1872, of Mr. F. S. Ellis, the eminent second-hand bookseller of Covent Garden, a very remarkable collected copy of the "Gallery" occurred for sale. It consisted of eighty-one portraits, many of which were proof impressions, and almost all illustrated by autograph letters of the illustrious originals. The whole was arranged in two volumes, 4to; bound in "red morocco, super-extra"; and did not long wait a purchaser, I presume, at the catalogue price of £63. This worthy successor of Rodd, Thorpe, and Lilly, has since removed to 29, New Bond Street, where he flourishes under the firm of "Ellis and White."
