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Mat 5, 1855.] THE EE'ADEB. v 429
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THE OLD WATER-COLOUR SOCIETY. We never r...
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THE NEW WATER-COLOUR SOCIETY. This exhib...
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MR. ALBERT SMITH. On Wednesday " Mont Bl...
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ROYAL GALLERY OF AR T. This handsome ser...
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Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software. The text has not been manually corrected and should not be relied on to be an accurate representation of the item.
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The Royal Academy Exhibition. We Have On...
opportunities and misjudged pictures since Academies and abuses first existed When we enter on the subject at greater length next week , we propose to direct the attention of our readers especially to the senseless , unjust , and ( in some Cases ) audacious arrangement of the pictures this year on the Academy walls . At present , it will be more useful if we confine ourselves to mentioning a few of the best pictures , which it is desirable that spectators should especially look out for , on a first visit . Among the figure-pictures , there are three which are , in very different ways , admirable as works of genuine High Art . The noble picture of the " Rescue" by Mr . Millais , stands first in the order of merit as a work exhibiting the highest originality , the most genuine dramatic vigour , and the finest technical qualities of any in the exhibition . Next comes Mr . Leslie ' s exquisite scene from "Don Quixote , " one of the very best pieces of genial humour and masterly characters painting that he has ever produced . And next to this work , we rank the " Life and Death of the Duke of Buckingham" ( in two companion-pictures ) by Mr . Egg . The choice of subject here is excellent , and the treatment ( in the case of the picture illustrating the death of
Buckingham especially ) impressive and dramatic in the best sense of the word . The greatest advance on former works has been accomplished by Mr . Hook—who has two delightful pictures of cottage life . The greatest Academical fuss—if we may use so small a word in relation to so great a body as the Royal Academy —has been made about a large picture of the " Triumph of Ciraabue , " by a new artiste—Mr . Leigh-ton . This work neither deserves its good place on the walls , nor its noisy Academy reputation . It is a tame , conventional picture—apparently promising great things , at a distance , and performing none of them on close inspection . Among the landscapes , the large canvases of Mr . Stanfield and Mr . Roberts , will speak for themselves . Mr . Ckeswick has a river-scene ( painted in conjunction with Mr . Ansdell ) the distance and sky of which are especially excellent . Mr . Lee ' s landscapes are so chalky in effect , so false in treatment , and so lamentably conventional in subject , that they had better be avoided by all visitors to the Academy who admire and understand Nature . But we have no space this week to warn people off the bad pictures . They will require an article to themselves .
Mat 5, 1855.] The Ee'adeb. V 429
Mat 5 , 1855 . ] THE EE'ADEB . v 429
The Old Water-Colour Society. We Never R...
THE OLD WATER-COLOUR SOCIETY . We never remember seeing a better collection of drawings by the Members of this Society than the collection which they are now exhibiting . Not the landscapes only , but the figure-subjects as well , are in many cases of the highest order of merit as works of Art . Taking the figure-pictures first , it is pleasant to be able to record the success of a young artist , who i s , we believe , a new member of the society—Mr . F . W . Burton . This gentleman has a drawing of " Peasantry of Upper Franconia waiting for Confession , " which , in composition , colour , and graceful adherence to Nature , is one of the most beautiful works of water-colour art that we ever had the pleasure of looking at . Mr . Burton has a second and larger drawing of " Pilgrims in the Cathedral of Bamberg , " even more admirable as a composition than the " Peasantry waiting for Confession , " but inferior to it both in colour and effect . Mr . Topham presents the result of his recent experiences in Spainin the shape of two drawings , excellentl y studied from nature ,
, and delightfully rich and harmonious in colour . Mr . Carl Haag has been all the way to Montenegro in search of materials for his art , and exhibits some picturesque specimens of the people of that interesting and little-known country , which are especially noteworthy for their vigour of treatment and look of local truth . Mr . J . F . Lewis has two small eastern scenes , which in their exquisite minuteness and delicacy of finish are nothing less than marvellous . The drapery on the camel ' s back , in No . 135 ( " The Well in the Desert" ) , is in i tself a perfect triumph of detail , obtained without any sacrifice of effect . Both this drawing and its companion are really and literally unique . Mr . Alfred Fbipp , too , has done his best drawing this year . He appears , as a colourist , to striking advantage in " Peasants of Olevano returning from Labour . " Mr . Hunt exhibits more of those exquisite little pictures—it seems incorrect and unfair to call them drawings—which have for so many years past ranked among the chief attractions of the Old Water-Colour Exhibition . He has , this year , one portrait of himself
( thinly disguised under the title of " Le Malade Imaginaire" ) , making a very wry face over some very nasty-looking physic , which for quaint , irresistible humour , is , in our opinion , the best work of its class that he has ever produced . The landscape painters have not been behindhand in contributing to the excellence of the exhibition . The finest among the many fine drawings this season , is a sea-piece ( No . 186 ) by Mr . S . P . Jackson . The effect of July heat is conveyed with exquisite power , softness , and brilliancy . The smooth , hot sea , the white mist of heat hanging above and on it , the l azy dropping over of the small shore waves , and the sultry brightness and dryness high up on the beach , are expressed with the most surprising , the most perfect truthfulness . Next in merit to this beautiful drawing we are disposed to place Mr . Duncan ' s " Harvest
Morn" —a lovely effect , conveyed with delightful softness and delicacy . Mr . Richardson has two views in the Bay of Naples , which are admirable in their atmospheric treatment . Mr . Bbamwihte ' s "Pool on the Conway -Mr . Davidson ' s " Haymaking" —Mr . Callow ' s " Distant View of Edinburgh — Mr . Naftel ' s brilliantly-painted " North-east Coast of Guernsey —and Mr . Brandling ' s careful and interesting studies of the architectural beauties of Nuremberg—are all , in various ways , drawings which rank among the foremost attractions in the collection . Many other charming works , which we have not unfortunately space enough to mention , we must leave our readers who intend to visit the Room of the Old Water-colour Society , to find out for themselves . We have sincere pleasure in assuring them beforehand that there is hardly such a thing as a bad drawing to be found in the whole Collection .
The New Water-Colour Society. This Exhib...
THE NEW WATER-COLOUR SOCIETY . This exhibition is scarcely up to its own standard in past years . We cannot , by any means , ascribe this to the members who have left it , although we no longer find Davidson and some others , who have passed over to the senior society . Henry Warren , the President ; Weunkbt , Cuarles Weioall , John Absolon , Louis Hague , Edwari * , ' CoRnouLD , and several others , who have materially contributed to tho ropiito of the brotherhood , are still working in it characteristically . Yet tho totul effect fulls abort of that which we have expected from tho experience of past years . Haohe , for example , who has so often given us striking pictures of interiors , hardly does himself justice , either in striking offect , or in dramatic interest . There is no denying tho masterly execution of the little picture on the screen— " Work First and Play Afterwards —intended to display costumo and furniture ; but the effect doea not pass tho matter-of-fact , and tho composition ia tame . There is something wearisome in tho general influence of tho exhibition from tho constant repetition of the same subjects . Thero may bo variety , but there ia no novolty . Yet novelty of object , ¦ whoro there ia not some strong dramatic or historic interest , is surely essential to a real living interest in a picture . The scone in which Mr . Henry Warmon places the figures of Adam and Eve 1 ms a certain grandeur , yet it ia a landscape
treated with a dramatic power of the palette very much after a manner familia to us for years and years past . Henry Warren can deal with subjects thai require vigour and grandeur ; but this year he is more successful in a Scotcl girl , who is exclaiming with some softness and naivete " Ye hae tellt me thai afore , Jimmy . " . Some of the landscapes , of course , are excellent . Among the best are , ' * St . Germain l'Auxerrois , Paris , " by D'Egville ; the " Place de la Basse Vieille , Tour , Rouen , " by J . S . Prout , and a " Norman Doorway , " by Charles Vacher . Mr . Edward Corbould is ambitious as usual , and strong in the still life of historical painting . "Paul and Silas in Prison at Philippi , " where the prison is rent by an earthquake during a thunder-storm , is powerfully painted in the riven timbers , the flashing light , the extinguished torch , the glittering armour , and so forth ; and the story is passably told .
Amongst the more interesting pictures of the exhibition are what seem to be the pencil products of Mr . John Absolon ' s recent " Travels in France ""Boulogne in 1804 , " where Napoleon gives liberty to two English sailors who wanted to cross the Channel in a cock-boat ; " Albert's arrival in 1854 ; " " Going to Market—Crecy , " a peaceful scene on the old battle-field—these are amongst the most fresh and interesting pictures in the exhibition . They are drawn very carefully—with considerable exactness ; with plain tints , not attempting very great gradation ; and with a lightness and breadth that give the whole effect of nature . The very life of painting lies in this escape from routine ; and it would be well for the painters of the New Water-Colour Society if more of them were aware of that simple fact .
Mr. Albert Smith. On Wednesday " Mont Bl...
MR . ALBERT SMITH . On Wednesday " Mont Blanc" was crowded for the thousandth time , and Mr . Albert Smith is still in the ascendant . Indeed , we see no reason why he should not be "in for another thousand , " for the attraction is undiminished , and even the badness of the season and the bitterness of the times are scarcely ¦ felt within the Egyptian Hall . This unparalleled success is completely justified Ty the character of the entertainment , in which all ages and all tastes find something to amuse , and if Mr . Albert Smith will pardon us for saying so , something to instruct . . To us the constant charm of an evening with Mr . Albert Smith is the easy , conversational tone of the host , which places you at once at your ease in a social and friendly manner , and which identifies the enjoyme nt of the audience with the delightful good humour of the lecturer . As it was said of a perfect lady , that to love her was a liberal education , so it may be said that to jkiss an evening with Albert Smith , is to make the happiest and liveliest of TOurs without fatigue , and without those petty miseries which are the moral baggage of continental travellers . .
__ . _ , ... I t i s not only a Spectacle dans unfauteuil , but a Voyage dans un fauteuil , with a companion whose spirits never flag , whose observation never fails , whose resources are never exhausted . Mr . Albert Smith has been sometimes regarded in one aspect only—as a literary caricaturist . He won his spurs , no doubt , in a field most dangerous to followers . But since the appearance of " Mont Blanc" he has become familiar to an immense public as a humourist of amazing versatility , touching almost all arts , and speaking almost all tongues ; as a man of feeling as well as fun , of heart and imagination as well as of common sense and vivacity , as one who can be grave as well as gay , composed as well as " fast , " serious and refined as well as rattling and uproarious . On est toujours it is true bit
tesclave de son premier talent , and Mr . Albert Smith , always , , a of an iconoclast , has scarcely been able to escape the consequences of his original reputation . But it is not difficult to trace a thoughtful vein of sincere admiration for all that is beautiful , and of respect for all that is noble amidst all that merciless mimicry and that incessant feu dejote of jokes . Mr . Albert Smith can feel and describe the awe of the solemn night and the splendour of the lonely dawn amidst the eternal snows , and he can descend from the mountains to catch the passing follies of our friends and our cousins on their travels , and in the " Galignani" song condense the news of the world into a sparkling shower of epigrams with a facility , an abundance , a brio quite
irre-81 ft t" 1 hi ^ Goinir up the Rhine , or through Holland , Switzerland , and I tal y with Mr . Albert Smith , you get to know reall y more of the life of those countries and of the habits of the people than in reading a hundred dull books of travel , made up of ex post facto sentiment and remarks , as per Murray . We can only advise such of our gentler readers as were not present at the thousandth performance , to remember ( when the two thousandth comes ) that a bouquet is presented to every lady in the stalls on these occasions . Meantime , let us advise all who want to kno w how to spend an evening most agreeably to look in at tne Egyptian Hall , where , in a picturesque chalet , in the midst of fountains and flowers , and all sorts of pleasant reminiscences of foreign travel , you are chatted who has to and it in
to by a gentleman de la meilleure cotnpagnie , plenty say , says the happiest manner , who sings a capital song in any language , and accompanies himself upon any instrument ; where Mr . Beverley ' s magic pencil brings tho lakes , the rivers , the mountains , the busy streets before you " like life , but life looking its best ; where invisible , soft music , "brings delight and bores not " That Mr . Albert Smith should have been able to entertain the public tor a thousand days , almost without interval , is itself a miracle of energy and animal spirits . How manfully must he have struggled against headache , against influenza , against low spirits , and other inevitable ailments which afflict even the liveliest humanity , and yet , from first to last , he has never disappointed the public by "indisposition . " May he live to ascend Mont Blanc ( in PiccadJily ; a thousand thousand times , and may wo live to accompany him I
Royal Gallery Of Ar T. This Handsome Ser...
ROYAL GALLERY OF AR T . This handsome series has now reached a considerable number of parts , and we have before us no fewer than eighteen of the plate .. lh ^ ^ ' ? " ° / J ? ° tS English artists appears thua far to consist of a very good e ^* %° ^ £ works . We have highly characteristic specimens ot ^ '"^ 'i ' ^ " ? the Stanfield , Jenkins , Uwins , Maolish , Ahm-vtaou , « ndoven ^ aUainyounger men whom fatalities of one kind or another » av 0 P ^^^ SJS of ing to their maturity in art-such as Townsuend . ^ yery gracemi ^ icotcn oi " Ariel" by him is of the collection Tho plat J- ^ " ^ . oto £££ ' f ™ £ tho clearness and brilliancy that we ^^^ "V ^ -, 1 1 , ^ 1 ^ and perfectly incalculated to bo of an exceedingly popular kind good ll \ ^\ T i ? P pOrtrttlt of telligible to tho vulgar . Amongst t » P late , th ro si oga njn I "Garrick and his Wifo " -a , picture «« ' <*™ ™ iVsunon this picture can of tho artist and of the two people ^ ny A ^"" J ^ rSty and force both as a ^ r ^^ xs ^ z £ »* s £ ^ x : » o W , * t * on **«* and strong marking in the countenance
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Citation
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Leader (1850-1860), May 5, 1855, page 21, in the Nineteenth-Century Serials Edition (2008; 2018) ncse.ac.uk/periodicals/l/issues/cld_05051855/page/21/
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