New Monthly Magazine.

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NOTES OF A READER.

BONINGTON.

Mr. Allan Cunningham has completed his fifth volume of the Lives of the most eminent British Painters, Sculptors, and Architects.  It contains Jameson, Ramsey, Romney, Runciman, Copley, Mortimer, Raeburn, Hoppner, Owen, Harlow, and Bonington; all sketched in the author’s most felicitous style.  The memoir of Bonington is of peculiar interest, since all our readers must recollect the premature death of that promising artist.  Mr. Cunningham observes of his last days: 

“I know not whether Bonington was at all aware in these days that a visible decay had come upon him, and that in the regretful opinion of many he was a man marked out for an early grave:  whatever he might feel or surmise, he said nothing, but continued to employ his pencil with all the ardour of the most flourishing health.  He rose early and studied late; nor did he allow any piece to go hastily from his hand.  The French, who are quick in discerning and generous in acknowledging merit, not only applauded his works from the outset, but watched his progress and improvement, and eagerly compared the marine paintings of the young Englishman with the standard works of the artists of their own country.  M. Gros, who, it seems, had for some unrecorded reason closed his atelier against him, was so touched by his fine works, that he ere long recalled him with commendations; and, in the presence of his pupils, said, he considered it an honour to have him in his studio.  A more moderate style of rapture was to be expected from his own countrymen; nevertheless, cold as English approbation of talent may seem, his works were welcomed here as few works of art have been welcomed.  His extreme modesty was somewhat against his success:  he was fearful of being thought presuming and forward; and has been known to shrink from introductions to men of rank and talent, from a doubt of his own deservings.  A letter to me from Mrs. Forster, a lady distinguished by her own talent as well as from being the daughter of Banks the sculptor, contains the following passage:—­’When Bonington visited England, in 1827, I gave him a letter of introduction to Sir Thomas Lawrence, but he returned to Paris without having delivered it.  On my inquiring why he had not waited on the President, he replied,—­“I don’t think myself worthy of being introduced to him yet, but after another year of hard study I may be more deserving of the honour.”  The following spring he went to London with his pictures; those which brought him such well merited fame.  He carried a letter from me to Sir Thomas, which he presented, and was received into his friendship; but, alas! it was of short duration; for the great success of his works, the almost numberless orders which he received for pictures and drawings, together with