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17
A gratifying feature in the career of Mr. Samuel Prise (whose
retirement was dealt with in the report for last year) was the
presentation to the Vestry, on the 4th July, 1890, of a full-length
oil painting of that gentleman. It had been subscribed for by Mr.
Price's numerous friends and admirers in recognition of the lengthy
and efficient service he had rendered to the Parish, and obviously no more
fitting place could be selected for its reception than the Yestry Hall.
The painting is by M. Emile Girardot, a Belgian artist, who, both at
the Royal Academy and in the Salons of Paris, has obtained considerable
distinction. It is needless, therefore, to add that a valuable
work of art has been added to the Islington collection of local
worthies.
On November 7th a deputation of "local villagers" and other
gentlemen interested in Islington attended before the Vestry to ask
its acceptance of the identical painting of Lieut. Col. Aubert to
which the following reference is made in Nelson's History of
Islington—
" There is a good likeness of Mr. Aubert in the European Magazine for November,
1798, from a painting by Drummond, and in the parlour of the first floor of the ' Angel
and Crown ' at Islington is a full length portrait of him, dismounted and holding his
charger, as commanding officer of the loyal Islington Volunteers, who are represented
in the background. It was painted by Mather Brown."
This Col. Aubert was an amateur astronomer of considerable note
having been elected a fellow of the Royal Society in 1772. At Highbury
House, where he resided, he is said to have erected, with the aid of
Smeaton, the eminent engineer, one of the finest observatories in the
country. During the excitement caused by the French Revolution he
raised the " Loyal Islington Volunteers," a body "»f which he was chosen
Colonel. It is hardly necessary to add that the Yestry accepted the gift
and that the painting now occupies a conspicuous position on the
walls of the Vestry Hall. It is due to Mr. Chas. Townley, the Superintendent
Registrar, whose interest in the literary and artistic past of
" the merrie village " as he likes still to call it is unlimited, to say that
it is owing to his efforts that this relic has at last found a fitting
home.
B