ch the sly fellow thought to
hide under his coat. The face and expression could belong alone to
Cupid. The mouth is shaped in a genuine Cupid's bow, and the pointed
chin shows his astuteness. Mischief lurks in the corners of the eyes
and in the curve of his mouth.

The Cupid as Link Boy is one of a number of fancy pictures which Sir
Joshua Reynolds painted for his own pleasure. His portrait orders were
nearly all from the wealthy and aristocratic classes, and the artist
would not have been content without a greater variety of subjects than
this work afforded. He had a fertile imagination for ideal or "fancy"
subjects, particularly for those of a humorous nature. Often when he
chanced to be driving through the streets his attention would be
attracted by some little waif, and he would take the child back to his
studio for a model. Our picture is from one of these mischievous
London street boys, whose face reappears in several other works.

XIII

THE HON. ANNE BINGHAM

Miss Anne Bingham was one of the many aristocratic ladies whose
portraits Reynolds painted, and one of the most interesting of this
class of sitters. Her vivacious face looking into ours wins us at
once, and we should be glad to know more of the charming original.

Anne Bingham was the youngest daughter of Sir Charles Bingham, who in
1776 was created Baron Lucan. Her mother, Lady Lucan, was a remarkably
talented woman, trying her hand with success at modelling, painting,
and poetry. She was ambitious to be an intellectual leader, and like
several other ladies of the time entertained after the fashion of the
French salons, inviting people of wit and learning to meet in her
drawing-room for discussion. Her artistic work was really remarkable.
Encouraged by the advice and help of Horace Walpole, she became a
skilful copyist, and it is said imitated the works of some earlier
painters with a genius that fairly depreciated the originals!

It was thus in exceptionally artistic and intellectual surroundings
that Anne grew out of girlhood. Her oldest sister, Lavinia, who
afterwards became Countess Spencer, inherited the mother's artistic
tastes, and was likewise a favorite with Horace Walpole.

The two daughters were both charming in appearance, and there was a
certain sisterly resemblance between them. If Lavinia's eyes were a
bit more sparkling, judged by the portraits, Anne's mouth was smaller
and more daintily modelled. As a frequent guest in thei