XXVI.

PORTRAIT BY MACLISE. 1825.

IN the Memoir of Daniel Maclise, R.A., by W. Justin O'Driscoll, M.R.I.A., Barrister-at-Law (London, 1871), there is the following notice of Sir Walter Scott's visit to Cork, in 1825, which may be quoted in connexion with the interesting chalk or pencil drawing of his head by that late eminent artist, then a youth, of which an exact facsimile is here given.

"In the autumn of 1825, Sir Walter Scott made a hasty tour of Ireland, accompanied by Mr. and Mrs. Lockhart and Miss Edgeworth. Amongst other places he stayed a short time at Cork, and whilst there he visited the establishment of Mr. Bolster, an eminent bookseller. The presence of the illustrious author attracted crowds of literary persons there. Maclise, then a mere boy [he was born January 25, 1811], conceived the idea of making a sketch of Sir Walter, and having placed himself unobserved in a part of the shop which afforded him an admirable opportunity, he made in a few minutes three outline sketches, each in a different position. He brought them home, and having selected that one which he considered the best, worked at it all night, and next morning brought to Bolster a highly finished pen-and-ink drawing, handled with all the elaborate minuteness of a line engraving. Bolster placed it in a conspicuous part of his shop, and Sir Walter with his friends having again called during the day it attracted his attention when he entered. He was struck with the exquisite finish and fidelity of the drawing, and at once inquired the name of the artist who had executed it. Maclise, who was standing in a remote part of the shop, was brought forward and introduced to Sir Walter. The great author took him kindly by the hand, and expressed his astonishment that a mere boy could have achieved such a work, and predicated that he would yet distinguish himself. Sir Walter then asked for a pen, and wrote with his own hand Walter Scott at the foot of the sketch. Maclise was advised by Mr. Bolster to have it lithographed. That branch of art was only then in its infancy. There was no lithographic press in Cork, and but one in Dublin. Maclise himself prepared the tracings for transferring the drawing to the slate. Five hundred copies were struck off and were sold as rapidly as they were printed. One of these original sketches, with the study in oils for The Spirit of Justice, and some early drawings of the artist, were to be seen in the National Exhibition at Cork in 1852.—This little sketch of Sir Walter Scott created such a sensation amongst art critics and the public, that Maclise, not without great reluctance and diffidence on his part, was induced by his friends to open an atelier in Patrick Street. He attained at once full practice for his pencil," etc. (pp. 20-22.)

The present Drawing seems not to be known to the Artist's biographer. It now belongs to JOHN FORSTER, Esq., and the use of it was obtained by Sir William Stirling Maxwell, Bart.

NO. XXVI.]