ENGLISH SCHOOL. 0000000 WILKIE. 0000 PRIV. COLLECTION. DIE THE SEIZURE. An unfortunate family who could not pay the rent they' owed to their landlord, in a short time a bailiff came and seized upon all that was worth any thing to pay the farm-rent. This privilege, that the law is obliged to grant to landlords is the cause of very afflicting scenes, since in wholly ruining the farmer, the only advantage that occurs to the owner, after the tenant's removal is to have his premises let to another. The unfortunate man, at whose house the seizure is made, is seated at a table, sinking under the weight of his grief through the impossibility of eluding his misfortune which is about to reduce him to the most wretched misery, as well as his young and numerous family. His wife sitting behind him appears to be fainting away, and does not even perceive that her affliction encreases her childrens sorrow. At the extremity of the picture the mother with an old servant is seen coming, while other persons of the family are endeavouring to move the bailiff. But he is as severe as the law, and takes no heed of the grief his presence occasions. His scribe sitting on the bed-side, draws up the deed of this seizure with a calm cool blood that nobody partakes of but he who dictates him. This picture of Wilkie is composed and painted with the highest talent; it belongs to M. A. Raimbach who has engra ved it. Breadth, 3 feet 2 inches? height, 2 feet i inch. ? LA SAISIE. Une famille devenue malheureuse n'a pu acquitter la redevance qu'elle doit à son propriétaire, et par suite un huissier vient saisir ce qui peut se trouver de bon, et servir ainsi à solder les fermages. Ce privilége, que la loi est obligée d'accorder au propriétaire, occasione des scènes fort douloureuses, puisque souvent, en ruinant tout-à-fait le fermier, elle ne donne au propriétaire d'autre avantage, que de faire cesser une location, qu'il se trouve par là le droit de donner à un autre. Le malheureux chez lequel s'opère la saisie est assis près d'une table; il paraît absorbé par l'impossibilité dans laquelle il se voit d'éviter le malheur, qui va le réduire à la misère la plus affreuse, ainsi que sa jeune et nombreuse famille. Sa femme, assise derrière lui, paraît s'évanouir, et ne s'aperçoit pas même que sa peine augmente le chagrin de ses enfans. Dans le fond arrive la mère avec une vieille servante, tandis que d'autres personnes de la famille cherchent à attendrir l'officier ministériel. Mais lui, impassible comme la loi, ne prend aucune part à tous les tourmens que sa présence occasione. Son' scribe, assis sur le bord du lit, fait le procès-verbal de cette saisie, avec une tranquillité qui n'est partagée que par celui qui le lui dicte. Ce tableau, du peintre Wilkie, est composé et peint avec beaucoup de talent; il appartient à M. A Raimbach, qui l'a gravé. Larg, 3 pieds? haut., 2 pieds? ENGLISH SCHOOL. Cooooo WILKIE. 0000 PRIV. COLLECTION. THE VILLAGE POLITICIANS. Perhaps there will very soon be in France many instances of political meetings among the peasants, but hitherto, only in some coffee-houses or taverns in great cities are to be heard discussions about peace or war, the march of armies or the sailing of fleet. On the contrary, in England the blacksmith and the cooper of every village have settled opinions which they intend to be prevailing, and the reading of the news-papers causes every day such and such a speaker of the house of commons to be commended or censured. Nay, often a like seemingly plain meeting produces a speaker, who, at last obtains that the town or the county ceases to trust any longer to their proxy, or having him nominated again if the house is dissolved. This picture is one of painter Wilkie's first productions, its composition, the truth and delicacy of the expressions which the author imparted to every personage, ranked him at first sight along with the most commendable artists in England. This picture has been engraved by Raimbach. It was made for the count of Mansfield who had formerly got the Rent Day. '1 Breath, 3 feet 2 inches? Height, 2 feet 1 inch? |