W. HAMILTON. SCENE FROM THE WINTER'S TALE. THIS Composition, taken from the last scene in Shakspeare's play of the Winter's Tale, represents the restoration of Hermione to her husband, Leontes, King of Sicilia, and her daughter, Perdita, who believing her dead, had been brought by Paulina to see her Statue. After gazing intently upon the figure of her mother, Perdita kneels and implores a blessing, and Leontes exclaims Methinks There is an air comes from he : what fine chisel His eagerness is checked by Paulina, who, after holding him sometime longer in suspense, at length invites the Queen to descend from the pedestal where she had personated a statue, and restores her to her family and dignity. This picture is usually cited as the best production of its painter, being well composed and painted, and less disfigured by the vice of manner than the generality of his works. It was painted for Boydell's Gallery, and engraved for the larger series of the Shakspeare Prints by R. Thew. |