Hitherto the English were indebted to other countries for the best performances exhibited here in painting; but in the branch in which Oliver excelled (that of miniature), we may challenge any nation to produce a greater mafter, if perhaps a few of the imaller works of Holbein be excepted. Among our own countrymen, there is no artist who can be put into competition with Oliver, unless it be Cooper, Even Cooper, though living in an age of freer pencil, and under the auspices of Vandyke, fcarcely compenfated, by the boldness of his expreffion, for the truth and deli cate fidelity of the older mafter. Ifaac Oliver had a son, Peter, who alone approached to the perfection of his father. Of Oliver's family there is no certain account; nor is it a matter of any confequence, his genius having raised him above diftinctions of that kind. Among his numerous and admirable pieces, there is a portrait of himself, in the poffeffion of the prefent earl of Orford, which juftifies all the encomiums that have been paffed upon him. The art of the master and the imitation of nature, are so great in this picture, that the largest magnifying glafs only calls out new beauties. Another of his invaluable works is at the lord Montacute's at Coudray, reprefenting three brothers of that lord's family. Oliver did not always confine himself to water-colours. There are inftances of his working in oil: but his productions in this fpecies of painting, though far from being deftitute of merit, are not to be compared with his other performances, There appear to have been two gentlemen painters in the reign of Elizabeth. One was John Twifden, a divine, who drew a fmall portrait of himself, neatly executed. The other was fir Nathaniel Bacon, knight of the Bath, and a younger fon of the lord-keeper. This gentleman really attained the perfection of a matter. He travelled into Italy, and studied painting in that country; but his manner and colouring approach nearer to the ftyle of the Flemish school. Some of his works are preferved at Culford, where he lived; and at Gorhambury, which was the feat feat of his father, is a large picture in oil, done by him, which is admirably painted. The age of Elizabeth was not deficient in engravers ; feveral of whom had confiderable merit. It will be fufficient, in this place, barely to recite their names. The artists we refer to were, Dr. William Cunyngham, Ralph Aggas, Humphrey Cole, John Bertes, William Rogers, Chriftopher Saxton, George Hoefnagle, and Robert Adams.There was at this time a paffion for the portraits of re markable perfons; and at the fame period was introduced the customs of publishing reprefentations of magnificent funerals. There is no occafion to enlarge on the patrons of litera ture during Elizabeth's reign, as all those whose names we recollect in this view have already been noticed on other accounts. The perfons that occur to us, as principally deferving here to be mentioned, are lord Buckhurst, lord Burleigh, archbishop Parker, Thomas Radcliffe earl of Suffex, Robert Devereux earl of Effex, and fir Philip Sidney. We apprehend that the two laft of thefe illuftrious men fhould be ranked above the reft as the Mæcenases of the age. Of literary foundations there was one at Oxford, and two at Cambridge. At Oxford, Jefus College was eftablished by Dr. Hugh Price, treasurer of St. David's. The advantages of this inftitution are chiefly confined to the Welch; its benefactors, its principals, and its scholars, having, with very few exceptions, been natives of the principality.-At Cambridge, Emanuel College was founded by fir Walter Mildmay, and Sidney-Suffex College, by the lady Frances Sidney, countefs of Suffex. It may truly be faid concerning each of the fe feminaries, that they have produced names which reflect honour upon religion and learning*, Fairfax, Warton, Cibber, Biographia Dramatica, Berkenhout, Pin kerton, Walpole, biographia Britannica, Ballard, Anthony Wood, Burney, &c. &c. The The literary history of queen Elizabeth's reign is a curious and interefting object; on which account it has demanded an extent of difcuffion that could not be fupplied or merited by any former period. Various branches of science and of art were, indeed, in an imperfect state, compared with what has been attained in fucceeding times. Nevertheless, the age we have been treating of, conftitutes. a great epocha in the Annals of British Knowledge and Literature. It was productive of manly, vigorcus, and enlarged minds. Several of its authors were very illuftrious; and fome of them will continue to be read and admired by the lateft pofterity. BRITISH |