THE PORTRAIT.

West Coast Times, Issue 318, 29 September 1866, Page 2

THE PORTRAIT.

(to the editob of the west coast times.)

Sib — I notice in your issue of yesterday, a paragraph referring to a portrait, which you. have designated Burgess. But, while passing a high compliment to my ability, regret that it .was not employed on .a mow worthy subject. You must have been mistaken as to the iden-

tity from a hasty or 'negligent inspection, as it is not a likeness of that notorious criminal, ' but of one; who) for his talents and genius, stood unrivalled on the dramatic stage. It represents the late G-. V. Brooke, as taken from a photograph on his first appearance in , the cslonies, when his powerful^ intellect was at the zenith of his fame. You will bo kind enough to' iusert this, in justiilcatioii of the high purpose and design of. / art, which has always been employed)' not to depict unprecedented villiany, but to pourfcray all that is sublime and beautiful in nature, and oblige,

Yours, &c. - Thomas E. Keenait.

Hokitika, Sei

[We have to apologise to the ariist for our surmise, that the portrait exhibited was intended to represent pne- of the Nelson muvdererSj to whom it' bore a most > villainous reseiriolanco. We-cerfainly did not recognise in the picture the linaments of an old and intimate friend. We shall always be happy to encourage local art ;. but there is a stage in art development, at which it is expedient for the artist to label his works in.the old manner of " Punch," who used to assist the apprehension of liis readers by appending to hi* cartoons such explanations as, " This is A Cow," &c. We have to apologise alike to Mr Keenan and Mr Burgess, for tho blunder we have made. — Ed. W.C.T.]