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Leader (1850-1860), 9th April 1859, Edition 1 of 2, Page 470

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      pletes the likeness of this wx > rk to an old picture cleaned and restored— "ia this style at so much . " Nature is sacrificed to art , harmony to harsh oppositions , « nd even the text has been departed from ; for the JOaJilfth is placed so close to Samson that did he but " suit the action to the word " he could hardly miss knocking her down . If it he true that " there is but one school of art , and that is kept by Nature , " we fear Mr , Leighton has played truant all too long . Mr . Hurlstone has made a great advance upon his usual historic efforts in the illustration to" Othello . " It is , as a whole , fine in conception , and , though something coarse in handling , is , for the most part , rich , harmonious , and even poetical in colour : of

      this the crimson arid purple gleams through the chain-mail , and the blue on the breastplate , may be cited as instances . The Othello is a noble rendering of Shakespeare ' s Moor ; and Iago ' s head , peeping through the curtain , is very striking . The Desdemona—the ardent though pure ; the well-principled though weak and depending—of a natural but not common character , not easily mirrored in a studied face—is less satisfactory , and lacks refinement . The picture is probably unfinished , unless we are to interpret the inscription , " Haud fecit faciebat , 1859 , "

      as a deprecatory admission that the pencil of the artist has , in Ms own opinion , lost its blden vigour . The "Hamlet" picture ( 53 ) , by the same hand , is less to our taste . The Ghost is a grand figure , but its colossal , stony-form does not agree with our notion of the murdered king . Mx . A . F . Patten ' s scene from " The Sleeper Awakened" ( 450 ) is a very clever piece of painting . The expression of Abon Hassan is good ; some of-the dresses and decorations marvellous , and the imitation of gold so true that Mr . Patten might almost have painted his frame without fear of detection .

      INSTITUTION OF FINE AKTS , PORTLAND . GALLEET . . [ Second Notice . ~\ Before we leave the first room at the Portland , we must mark the . " Sunday Morning" ( 309 ) , of Alfred Provis , on the third screen , and " Out of Town" ( 262 ) , by J . B . Burgess , on the second . The former is a mere morsel , splendidly lit up , and sparkling with all the usual beauties of the popular artist . It depicts an old man reading his Bible to a little child who sits . at his feet . The latter is a pleasing combination of excellence in portrait and landscape . Its subject , " Out of Town , " playfully treats an episode in a

      country trip of a pair who may be father . daughter , or a . married couple of most disproportionate age . On the mossy moorland turf , a silk handkerchief over his head , slumbers in the sun a paterfamilias-looking old gentleman , whose fair round person and honest features are redolent of capital and good humour . Near him , seated on a boulder , with a pair of expressive eyes turned upon the hill side j she "is sketching , is his fair travelling companion . Both figures are very nicely drawn , their countenances are very well painted , and the fell background is successful .

      In the second room Mr , P . SmaHfield has disappointed us with his " Early Lovers" ( 319 ) . A stout lubberly ill-proportioned youth , and as unpromising a maiden , in confabulation at a stile , are the lovers , and the drawing and colour are about as crude as the pair . That Mr , Smallfleld ' s tender pinions should haye failed to bear him , just at present , on a very ambitious " . flight , is ' not surprising , but the day is not very distant when ye are fain to believe they will serve him . ' His "Popular Song " ( 878 ) , a tiny canvas , showing a funny little maid-ofall-work engrossed in sweet forgetfulness of her normal sorrows and hardships , on getting up some such ditty as " Barbara Allen" or " Old Dog Tray , " will please all who will be at the pains

      to seek it where it nestles in a corner among more extensive and-pretentious works . Not far from "The Early Lovers" is a large and high-priced work , " The Last of an Old Comrade " ( 326 ) , whose painter might , we should think , have spent skill and time to greater advantage upon a less hackniod subject than ft grove-yard gathering , Hard by is a large landscape li Seovoyholme Leaps" ( 283 ) , by Mr . Pool , who , abandoning the refreshing green ot his last year ' s pictorial crop , has resumed fche brown and orange hues he had then for a while laid aside . Mr . Provis shows no falling off as ho becomes fashionable and * wo presume , richer . His

      w Cottage Door " ( 892 ) is worthy of rank with his best . Mr . Wood , whose French street scenes we so dften see at exhibitions , though so seldom " for sale , " must look to his laurels : for Mr . J . D . Barnet , who paints a " Scene at Dieppe" ( 342 ) , and some " Old Houses fit Viro * ' ( 454 ) , is behind him , and , though not quite at his heels , is gaining ground . The '' Professor " ( 354 ) , a jolly mediroval man-cook , lording H in a baronial orypt , over hie kitchen handmaid and his marmiton , ' ie a first-rate specimen of Mr . ( D < Faonuwe ' s clever ink outlines filled in with colour . As clever in their way , and illegitimate as attractive are his « Course of True Love " ( 357 ) , and " Roadside Toilet" ( aos ) . «• That's the Way tho

      Money Goes" is a painting of the Chinese school , that will raise many a laugh and many a grunt-All the sterescopes in the world could not more vividly bring a scene before one , than does this little picture by Mr . Hallyar , of a baby on a hpbby horse revelling among the accessories of a most complete outfit of playthings . Gloomy , and grand , and dirty as ever , are Mr . R . S . Sanders' " Ben Bladach" ( 397 ) , and " Head of Loch Long ( 364 ) . Get far enough away from them , reader ; you may then know how well this painter understands and renders the ferocity of the mountain landscape . There are still some works of niark on which we shall have a few words to say hi a future number ; but for the present we must quit the Portland for other scenes .

      In 555 , a quaint little picture by Bowles , the expression of the little girl and the white light of summer sunshine are well represented . " Night " ( 507 ) , by J . E . Collins , a female half-length , shows some good flesh painting . Mr . J . G . Naish ' s "Le Creux Harbour , Sark , " is a picture which insists upon observation . It will hardly he appreciated by persons unacquainted with the green water and peculiar rocks of the Channel Islands , but none can deny that it displays great power of drawing and strength of colour , with an elaboration of detail that speaks loudly for its truthfulness . In short it must be believed in , and improves wonderfully on acquaintance .

      THE HAVELOCK TESTIMONIAL . AT SUNDER ! , AND . The committee for the colossal statue to the late lamented Havelock have selected the competitive model No . 22 . Although by Mr . Behnes , the same sculptor who was selected to erect the colossal statue in Trafalgar-square—now in progress—the model chosen is not the same as that selected by the London conirnittee , the position being varied . The marble bust of the late General , now in the council-chamber , Guildhall , is also by the same excellent and , as it would appear , popular artist .

      Untitled Article

      w UATiiARKET THEATRE . Our brethren of the daily press seem , divided about the originality of Mr . Stirling Coyne ' s piece , " Everybody ' s Friend , " which was produced , here this day week . That . it was successful is admitted hy all . That it is good is denied by those only who , thirsting after " new characters , " would not object to or detect such impossible combinations as a dramatic engineer

      of Mr . Coyne ' s experience and tact would never think of offering to the public . ! For ourselves , though not over niuch addicted to broad grins , we found occasion for a few in the course of the three acts * Our neighbours of the pit and gallery , who care no more for aesthetics than they do for JEscliylus , and don't and won't go to plays to be taught ( if they know it ) , applauded to a man , woman , and child , the insidiously disguised , morality , the numerous and strange , yet easy working cranks in . the plot , and the very neat and telling dialogue of the ingenious author .

      The well-seasoned moral , that the pleasure of married life is to be sought and , if necessary , cultivated at tho hearth—not abroad—Mr . Coyne has illustrated by the troubles that fall upon a certain vivacious Jar . Featherley ( Mr . Charles Mathews ) , who , bored by a twelvemonth of- matrimony , busies himself , as it would seem , for mere distraction ' s sake , in doing those most out-of-the-way services for other people winch the bachelor Achates , or eiijant de la maison , thinks nothing of undertaking , but , which might well lead to inconvenience when performed by married men . A friend of Feathei'lcy ' s , one Mr . Icebrook ( Mr . Compton ) , is too retiring to woo for himself . —Featherley plays suitor for him . A lady friend

      has ahttleboy by a former marriage to quarter upon a second husband without raising suspicion .- —JFcatherley attempts it . But in both those intrigues , and a number of cross and counter-cross plots , whioh it would take us three columns to unravol successfully , ho alarms Ms young wife ( Mrs . C . Mathows ) , exposes himself , and has finally to be " Rareyfiod" intoseoing his evil ways , a turning ovor a new leaf , and learning the true secrets of doniestic felicity by tho fascination of his bettor-half aforesaid , under tho counsel of their friend , Mrs . Swandown ( Miss Reynolds ) , a gay widow , who , having herself had some experience , of course the benefit of it to

      gives others with the greatest of pleasure . Though Mr . Coyne most likely measured tho Haymarket troupe for tins comedy , and is a most renowned hand at cutting dramatic coats according to histrionic cloth , wo cannot say that Mr . and Mrs . Charles Mathows are over and above well fitted . Tho former , having been long a favourite , will always , barring accidents or grave Uso" viajeatH , have a public of his own , in spite of caroloss study , a weak part , or a bad make up . Tho lady , again , who would do tor tho soubrotte lino of business , is not sufficiently at oaso in gontool comedy for a Hayinurkot audience .

      But by the strong help of Mr . Buckstone , Mr . Compton , and Miss Reynolds , the shortcomings above alluded to were amply compensated for . The lessee was ludicrous in the extreme as a vain , cowardly militia popinjay . Major Wellington de Soots . Mr Comipton was himself as the diffident Icebrook and Miss Reynolds brought the aid of her excellent taste in dress and her ladylike manner to aid her excellent intelligence in completing an adequate impersonation of the author ' s Mrs . Svoansdoion . The comedy in

      short , is very good for times when everybody is very clever and has a good memory — - Comedy having been hard at work since the days of Terence at the mines of " character , " and true novelty beinc as rare as really new sensation . The pit said so , and the gallery said so , too . The boxes have pronounced by this time in favour . The quidnuncs will wait a month , by which time another " new and original " work in the ' comedy line will have appeared , to keep the embers of their spleen alive for the summer

      season . MONDAY POrULAU CONCEItTS . The new series maintains its well-deserved popularity . The eighth concert , on Monday evening was extremely well attended , and the miscellaneous audience throughout evinced a thorough appreciation of the classic music of Handel and J 3 ach , admirably executed . Bach's " Prelude , Sarabande , and Gavotte , " by Signor Piatti and M . Benedict , met with ah thusiastic Miss

      en encore . Arabella Goddard , in her Suite de Pieces , concluding with the " Harmonious Blacksmith , " was also cncoi-ed . The lady appeared , at first , reluctant to yield to the wishes of the audience , but afterwards complied , and received a universal and hearty " tribute of applause . Among the vocalists , Miss Dolby deserves especial mention for her chaste and beautiful delivery of Handel's fine air , ¦ ' Cangio d'Aspetto , " from the opera of " Adnrietus . " : LECTURES BY MADAME UOLA rUONTEZ . This celebrated lady , noted alike for her personal as for her political powers , has arrived in London , after lecturing in Dublin and elsew-here on the characteristics of the Americans and the English , and gave the first of a series of four lectures , at St . James ' s Hall , on Thursday evening . We need hardly say that , though now styling herself Madame Lola Montez , she is Countess of Landsteld , arid that her quiet manners and appearance correspond with her rank . Her figure is slender and graceful , and her features are small , delicate , aiid feminine .- Her eyes arc remarkably brilliant , and the expression of her mouth , though it betokens energy of character ,

      is not deficient either in suavity or refinement . She has a sweet , flexible voice , which she manages with great discretion , and her delivery is graceful and impressive . There is considerable cleverness in her lecture ; and she manifested a woman ' s acumen in the detection of character by the observation of numerous small characteristics . Though severe on the manners and principles now in vogue in the United States , she yet sees in the people the germs of the mightiest of nations , when they have passed out of their present gawJiy state , which may be compared to the transitional condition of boyhood to manhood . The lecture - \ vas listened to with marked attention ; the applause at the conclusion was hearty and universal ; and Madame Montez was recalled to receive a second round of approbation .

      Untitled Article

      Indian Mutiny Relief Funu . —Tho Committeo have issued their second annual statement . It shows that tho total amount of subscriptions raised , ' with interest and premium is 442 , 470 ? ., that is to say , a handsome sum which looks like half a million sterling . Upwards of 40 , 000 * . has been given to sufferers in- Great Britain . Mauineks' Compass 3 tqk Iron Ships . — An important invention , by Mr . John Gray , of Liverpool , has lately excited the attention of the principal European Governments . By Mr . Gray ' s principle the slightest deflection of the needlo in the compass of iron Bhips is immediately rectified . All errors caused by the heeling of the ship , us well as us horizontal deviation , are corrected ; and experience the

      has shown that in tho circle of 300 dogreos . ro has beon only one degree and a fraction of errora fact reported to the Lords of tho Admiralty oy the officers of the Crown appointed to investigate tho systom . It lias beon introduced into tho Britisu Royal Navy on tho express recommendation oi uio Astronomer-Royal , Mr . Airoy . Tho Russian uovormnent have adopted it in their navy ; ana JW-r . Gray " rocontly met , at Bordeaux , a commission composed of French officers , spoclully appointed to report upon it . Mr . Gray lias since roooivca an order flwh tho tfronoh Minister of Marino lor ins compasses . We mention thoso facts in tho In * ! ™ of science , for , some yours back , it was fearod « h » the osolllations of tho needlo on board ot . iron steamers would provo fatal to tho uso of iron aa ft material in shipbuilding .

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      Untitled Article

      470 THE LEA BE B . [ N <> . 472 r Arril 9 , 1859 .

  • Citation
    • Leader (1850-1860), April 9, 1859, page 470, in the Nineteenth-Century Serials Edition (2008; 2018) ncse.ac.uk/periodicals/l/issues/vm2-ncseproduct2289/page/22/