A.R.A.

No. 195. All snuggled up! The President is compelled to economise space!

A. R. AT THE R. A.

(I.e., A Representative at the Royal Academy.)

No. 172. Couldn't 'e Padmore? By John S. Sargent, A.R.A.

Anyone arriving at Burlington House so early as to be the first person to pay his money and take his choice, will probably look straight before him, and will feel somewhat confused at seeing in the distance, but exactly opposite him, a dignified figure wearing a chain of office, politely rising to receive the early visitor. "It can be no other than the President himself," will at once occur to the stranger within the gates; "and yet, did I not hear that he was abroad for the benefit of his health?" Then, just as he is about to bow his acknowledgments of the courtesy extended to him personally by the Chief Representative of Art in this country, he will notice seated, at the President's left hand, and staring at him, with a pen in his hand, ready either to take down the name of the visitor, or to make a sketch of him, a gentleman in whose lineaments anyone having the pleasure of being personally acquainted with Mr. Stacy Marks, R.A., would at once recognise those of that distinguished humourist in bird-painting. "Is there wisions about?" will the puzzled visitor quote to himself, and then boldly advancing, hat in hand, to be soon replaced on head, he will come face to face with the biggest picture in the Academy, covering almost the entire wall.

No. 277. The G. O. M. at Cannes. By T. Graham.

The stately figure is not Sir Frederic Leighton, P.R.A., who unfortunately has been compelled to go abroad for the benefit of his health—prosit!—nor is the seated figure Mr. S. Marks; but the former is "The Bürgermeister of Landsberg, Bavaria," and the latter is his secretary, while the other figures, all likenesses, are "his Town Council" in solemn deliberative assembly. The picture, an admirable one, and, as will be pretty generally admitted, a masterpiece of the master's, is No. 436 in the book, the work of Meister Hubert Herkomer, R.A.

But as this is in Gallery No. VI., and as it is not every one who will be privileged to see the picture as the early bird has seen it, and as some few others may, perhaps, see it during the season, this Representative retraces his steps from No. VI., and commences de novo with No. 1.

No. 17. "Finan Haddie," fresh as ever, caught by J. C. Hook, R.A. Title, of course, should have been "Finan Haddie Hook'd."

Sir John Millais' St. Stephen (not a parliamentary subject), showing that Good Sir John's hand has lost none of its cunning, is No. 18; and after bowing politely to Mrs. Johnson-Ferguson, and pausing before this charming picture by Luke Fildes, R.A., to take a last Luke at her, you will pass on, please, to No. 25, "The Fisherman and the Jin," and will wonder why Val. C. Prinsep, R.A., spells the cordial spirit with a "J" instead of a "G." It is a spirited composition.

No. 31. Mr. John S. Sargent, A., let "Mrs. Ernest Hills" go out of his studio in a hurry. She is evidently "to be finished in his next."

No. 34. "A Quiet Rehearsal." Lady Amateur all alone, book in hand, to which she is not referring, trying to remember her part and say it off by heart. It is by W. B. Richmond, A. To quote a cigarette paper, this work may be fairly entitled "A Richmond Gem."

No. 43. "Evening." By B. W. Leader, A. Delightful. Artistic aspirants in this line cannot play a better game than that of "Follow my Leader."

This Representative recognised "Dr. Jameson, C.B.," by Herkomer, at a glance. If you are asked by anyone to look at "Hay Boat" do not correct him and say "You mean A Boat," or you will find yourself in the wrong boat, but admire Hilda Montalba's painting, and pass on to Ouless, R.A.'s, excellent portrait of "J. J. Aubertin" (a compound name, whose first two syllables suggest delightful music while the last syllable means money); thence welcome our old friend Frith, R.A., who, in 67, [and a trifle over, eh?] shows us "Mrs. Gresham and Her Little Daughter." From the "little D.'s" expressive face may be gathered that she has just received a "Gresham Lecture." After noting No. 73 and 83 (the unhappily separated twins) together, you may look on No. 126. Two fierce animals deer-stalking in a wild mountainous region, painted by Arthur Wardle. Only from what coign of vantage did Mr. Wardle, the artist, make this life-like sketch? However, he came out of the difficulty safe and sound, and we are as glad to welcome a "Wardle" as we should be to see his ancient associate "Pickwick," or a "Weller," in Burlington House.

No. 139. Charming is Sir F. Leighton's "Fair One with the Golden Locks." To complete the picture the hairdresser should have been thrown in. She is en peignoir, and evidently awaiting his visit. This is the key to these locks.

No. 242. Mr. Andrew C. Gow, R.A., gives us Buonaparte riding on the sands with a party of officers, "1805." The Emperor is cantering ahead of the staff. Another title might be "Going Nap at Boulogne."

No. 160. "A Lion Tamer's Private Rehearsal." But Briton Rivière, R.A., calls it "Phœbus Apollo."

No. 251. Queer incident in the life of a respectable middle-aged gentleman. Like Mr. Pickwick, he has mistaken his room in the hotel, and has gone to bed. Suddenly, lady, in brilliant diamond tiara, returns from ball, and finds him there. The noise she makes in opening the curtains awakes him. He starts up alarmed. "Hallo!" he cries, and for the moment the ballad of "Margaret's Grim Ghosts" recurs to his mind. His next thought is, "How fortunate I went to bed in my copper-coloured pyjamas, with a red cummerbund round me." Of course he apologised, and withdrew. What happened subsequently is not revealed by the artist who has so admirably depicted this effective scene, and whose name is Sir John Millais, Bart., R.A.

No. 368. Excellent likeness, by Mr. Arthur S. Cope, of the well-known and popular parson Rogers. A Parsona Grata. This typical old-fashioned English clergyman, who, in ordinary ministerial functions, would be the very last person to be associated with a "chasuble," will henceforth never be dissociated from a "Cope."

No. 491. A picture by Mr. Fred Roe. If Nelson's enemies had only known of this incident in his lifetime!! Here is our great naval hero,