The Press. — London, England, 1858-07-24 00:00:00

par ' tto discover any remarkable falling off, even 1 - under this head. To those familiar with the music, the avoidance of very florid and high-pitched pas. sa ges, the endeavour to spare herself where in former times she would have scorned such an a ttempt, an indisposition to grapple with difficulties which in the days of Albertazzi, as Adalgisa, it was her delight to revel in and conquer—these, and other similar circumstances, manifesting themselves to the more experienced amongst the audience, could not but recal to mind how many London sea seas have come and gone since the Norma of 1858 made her first debut in that character. To the majority of artistes it would be anything but agree able to be reminded of what they were twenty•five years ago: to Mme. Grisi it may well be a subject, of pride. The ninth scene of the first act of Norma may still, es then, be pointed to as her mas terpiece in this opera. Her perfect render ing of the " 0 non tremare," coupled with equally perfect action, forms an ensemble that will, probably, never be surpassed, if ever equalled, again. In the charming aria, Deli ! conte," whilst singing with much touching expres sion, she seemed to spare herself more than in any part of the opera ; but in the duets "Si fino all'ore" (between Norma and Adalgisa) and " Qual cor tradisti" (between Norma and Polito), she dis played extraordinary power. It was, no doubt, owing to the just popularity of this musical Ninon Ale l'Enclos, that the house was completel} filled, notwithstanding the lateness of the season. Mlle. Mardi, ass Adalgisa, in spite of a groat deal of good singing, cannot be deemed equal to the part. In the concerted pieces, especially act i. scene 9, " Mira, o Norma " and "Si lino all'ore " (scene ;I, act ii.), her careful and correct vocalization was as con spicuous as delightful ; but her solo per. formances, and particularly the recitative por tion of them, possessed less merit. Signor Tamberlik's Portion, though unequal throughout, was very good. In "Va crudele " and " Vieni in Roma" (scene 6, act i.), in "Norma, de'tuoi rimpro 'Jeri " (the trio in scene 8, act i. ), in Ah ! t'appaghi it mio terrore !" (duet with Norma, scene 10, act ii.), and, finally, and above all, in the touching duet, "dual cor tradisti," in the closing scene, he ob taMed, as he deserved, great applause. The secon dary parts were well sustained ; and the choruses, mile en scene, and other acdessories were (no slight praise) not inferior to any that have yet been listened to or seen in the New Opera-house. It is impossible to speak too highly of Signor Costa's department. The overture was given with so much perfection that one could Iwo lislied it volouged to &Able its actual durationenui Jvale e :40/ 1 1 , ' 1 " 0 ill , , 4 . 2 , 2 2 •••airm. • t•••.2-t• ••• • 7 'R4, 3•31111 - . put 4rts ()MA ,6sPe4l(l • 4 10/111/111.11141, 1 4kiri110 has jusi`bosu consigned for Agillinaltleri. Williams and Norgate, the German fl+lsl do Coveet-garden, and is at present on 'lNlPMellinditwarehouse. It is stated to have been in the seventeenth century to the Car melittlformatery in the city of Mexico by Don Juan de Palafox y Mendoza, archbishop of the province, and to have remained there until the beginning (.1 the present century, when, through Lord Cochrane's influence, the Carmelites were induced to part with it. The Mexican revolution of 1810, however, pre• vented its embarkation, and the picture, after remaining for two years in a monastery at Vera Cruz, passed into the possession of Archbishop Don Antonio Martinez. Alter his death it appears to have been purchased by his successor, Archbishop I)on Francisco Pablo ,Virsqttez, by whom. it was sold in 1851 to. Don Jose Lang, a merchant of Puebla. This gentleman, we are told, sent it five-years ago to his friend and correspondent, Mr. J. H. Dick, of Offenbach, though for what purpose, or with what intention, we are not informed. Whether it has been sucoessitely offered to the various galleries of Europe we cannot tell ; we only know that it is now brought into the English market. Such is the ab stract of its title to be considered a genuine produc tion of Murillo ; for internal evidence we have the opinion of Professor IVasgs3n, who pronounces it not only an unquestionable work of the Spanish master; but (moot the fittest be has ever seen. Pro fe.ssor blagnes in lees enthusiastic ; but be, too, con siders it genuine and in good preservation ; and M. Otto Mundle4 late of the National Gallery, has se doubts at ail. He " certifies of his own accord, and from thorough coniiction, that it is an undeniable original, and that the beauty and richness of tire • composition, the charms of form, and the expression of heavenly ecstasy, the brightness of its lustre, and the delicacy of the aria' tints, render it worthy of a distinguished place among the storks of this master of the School of Seville." The size of the picture is six PHIL three inches by four feet-nine inches, and the title given to it is "The Assumption of the Virgin," though we dents if this atipellation is •striellg correct. It was in 1617 that Pope Paul V. threw all Spain into a THE PRESS, JULY 24, 1858 frenzy of delight by advancing a step towards the establishment of the favourite Spanish dogma of the Immaculate Conception. His bull, without affirming the doctrine, prohibited any one from preaching against it; and " Our Lady of the Immaculate Conception " became the fashionable Madonna of the time. A large number of these are to be found in the list of Murillo's works, and the picture now offered for sale we take to be one of them. Rules were laid down by the art critics of the time as to the manner in which the subject should be treated. The Virgin was to be clothed with the sun (that is to say, enveloped in a yellow light), treading on the moon, and surrounded by cherubs ; her eyes were to be directed upwards, and her hands folded upon her breast. This picture of Murillo is painted in accordance with these regulations ; but in spite of the opinions of the professors, we have little to say in the way of admiration. We find the Virgin a not very goodlooking peasant girl, placed, it is true, in a supernatural position, but with nothing else of the supernatural about her; we can see no " heavenly ecstacy," much less anything like immaculate purity. Even in point of colour it does not seem to us a good specimen of the artist, while the drawing in parts is undeniably incorrect, and the execution careless. When we hear that the price demanded is 4,000/., and read M. Otto Miindler's printed opinion, we cannot repress a feeling of gratitude that this gentleman is no longer "Expert of the National Gallery of London." PROPOSED DRAMATIC COLLEGE. ON Wednesday afternoon a public meeting was held at the Princess's Theatre, for the purpose of estab lishing an asylum for aged and infirm actors and actresses. A gentleman of the name of Dodd bad offered to grant five acres of land as the site of such an institution, and a provisional committee was at once formed with the view of effecting the object. It *a-at their instigation that the present meeting was convened. Mr. CHARLES KEAN, who had given the use of his theatre to the committee, occupied the chair. He was surrounded by most of the leading actors of the (lay, including Mr. Benjamin Webster, of the Adelphi (chairman of the committee), Mr. Planchit, Mr. Harley, Mr. Nelson Lee, Mr. Robson, Mr. Barney Williams, Mr. Samuel Phelps, Mr. Frank Matthews, Mr. Creswick, Mr. Sims Reeves, Mr. Cullenford, Mr. A. Wigan, Mr. Kinloch, Mr. T. P. Cooke, Mr. William Cooke, Mr. Barry Sullivan, Mr. R. Roxby, Mr. Swan borough, Mr. John Cooper, and others. Besides the members of the theatrical profession who supported the chair, many literary, artistic, and dramatic celebrities were observed on the stage, amongst whom were Mr. Charles Dickens, Mr. Charles Reade, *-Mr. Wilkie Collins, Mr. W. R. Bell, Mr. Peter Cun ningham, Mr. Clarkson Stanfield, R.A., Mr. Augustus Egg, Mr. David Roberts, R.A., Mr. T. Creswick, R.A., Mr. Ellmore, R.A., and Mr. Thomas Grieve. The CHAIRMAN opened the proceedings, atter which Mr. CULLENFORD read a report, of which the following is an abstract :—The immediate object was to procure sufficient funds to erect twenty buildings, ten for actors, and ten for actresses. The next pur pose will be to provide annuities for the occupants. At a subsequent period it may be hoped to add an educational design for the children of members of the dramatic profession ; but at present the com mittee desire to give their whole attention to the single purpose of providing dwellings, not doubting that everything else which may be required, will be provided for. They now recommend : that the ac ceptance by the committee of the five acres of land from the grantor be confirmed by this meeting ; that four trustees be appointed to receive a conveyance ; that the title of the institution be "The Dramatic College ; " that bankers be appointed ; that a sub scription for carrying into effect the objects contem• plated be now commenced, and that gentlemen be appointed to act as stewards, in making a collection ; that the proceedings of the provisional committee be approved, and that the said committee, with power to add to its number, be continued in office till the next annual general meeting; that when, in the opinion of the committee, sufficient funds have been obtained, plans and estimates for the proposed build ings be procured ; that at a special general meeting the provisional committee do present a report of their opinion as to the regulations necessary for the future management of the college; the committee have reason to believe that the first two dwellings will be erected by the Covent Garden and Drury Lane Theatrical Funds. After an eloquent address from Mr. KEAN, Mr. CHARLES DICKENS came forward to propose the first resolution, which was as follows : That the report of the provisional committee be adopted, and that this meeting joyfully accepts and gratefully ac knowledges the gift of five acres of land referred to in the report. He said he thought he might venture to congratu late them beforehand on the pleasant circumstance that the movers and seconders of the resolutions would have little to say, in consequence of the com prehensiveness of the report and the statement of 707 the chairman. Many as the parts were in which Mr. Kean had distinguished himself on those boards, he had never distinguished himself more than on that day in the large grasp of an artist, the generous feeling offs man, and the grace of a gentleman. The dramatic art was too frequently forgotten in the ex citements of this work-a-day world. Actors had to change the silks and satins of the night for the hideous coats and waistcoats of the present day, in which those now on the stage had the honour to ap pear before the meeting ; their career was in every respect a chequered one, so that they had nothing to do but to accept the goods the gods provide. He could not help recollecting that in a few hours from that time the stage on which they stood would be converted into the scene of a cruel bond ; the quality of mercy would be beautifully stated to the Venetian council by a learned young doctor from Padua. Now they were assembled to enter upon a bond, the execution whereof that meeting would witness, and which he trusted would be one of mercy for many years to come. Mr. Dickens proceeded to draw a humorous contrast between the feelings which ope rated upon the hearts of those present and the pas sions which would govern the actors in the very dif ferent scene which was to be enacted on the same spot at night—the play to be performed being, as well known to the audience, The Merchant of Venice. Mr. CREswrcic seconded the resolution, which was carried. Mr. T. P. Corms proposed the second resolution : That Charles Kean, Esq., Benjamin Webster, Esq., Charles Dickens, Esq., and W. M. Thackeray, Esq., be elected trustees of the said college. Mr. HARLEY seconded the resolution, which was adopted. Mr. WEBSTER proposed the'next resolution : That a subscription be entered into for the purpose of carrying out the gift of the donor, and the intent ions of the provisional committee. - - - - Mr. WEBSTER stated that an application had been made to her Majesty, requesting that she would bo graciously pleased to become the patron of the insti tution, and the following answer had been received : Osborne, July 18, 1858. My dear Mr. Webster,—l have had the honour to lay before her Majesty the Queen the papers which accom panied your letter to me of the 15th inst. I have received the commands of her Majesty to say to you, in reply, that her Majesty would take much interest in any plan for rendering more comfortable the declining years of actresses and actors who were suffering under insufficient means, and the Queen would wish every success to the undertaking of which you have forwarded the pro ' speetns. The scheme is not, however, as yet sufficiently advanced for her Majesty to become its patroness. The Queen has always required, before she grants the use of her name to any new charity, that not only shall the object be a deserving one, but that it shall have been suf ficiently appreciated and supported by the public to give a reasonable security that the institution shall be prosperous and permanent. When, therefore, your plans have ac quired a little more substantive character, and there is good evidence of a cordial and general support, you will be at liberty to apply to me again for her Majesty's patronage. — I remain, yours, C. B. PI:1113PS. Mr. Webster proceeded to express the deep sympathy he felt in the cause, and stated that, being possessed of large masses of stone in Wales, bo would contribute sufficient to face twenty tenements and to supply the whole amount of stone which might be required in the erection of the collegiate school. Mr. ROBERT BELL seconded the resolution, which was agreed to. It was then proposed by Sir GEORGE ARMITAGE, and seconded by Mr. FRANK MATTHEWS, that Messrs. Coutts and Co. be the bankers at the West-end, and Messrs. Roberts, Curtis, and Co., in the City, for re ceiving the subscriptions to the fund.—Carried. A long list of subscriptions was then read by Mr. Cullenford, amounting in all to nearly 7001., including 100 guineas from Mr. Henry Dodd. Sir W. D. BATHE proposed, and Mr. BRADY, M.P., seconded, a vote of thanks to Mr. Kean for his valuable and efficient services as chairman, and for his kindness in offering the use of the theatre for the occasion. Mr. KEAN having expressed his acknowledgments and congratulated the promoters of the scheme that they had commenced their labours under such en couraging auspices, the meeting separated. MME.Toru.—This accomplished actress made her third" positively last appearance this season," at the Royal Italian Opera-house, last night. The manager deemed the success of Monday's per formance on the same boards a sufficient reason for repeating it. In our next number we shall take our farewell of this lady, who, unhappily for the public, has discovered, only at the twelfth hour, that she is fitted for something else than a repetition of that miserable play Adrienne Lecouvreur. Had Elisabetta Regina d'lnghilterra been produced in the place of and at the same period as that meretricious composi tion, we cannot help thinking that Mme. Ristori would have proved a greater acquisitionto Mr. Orye than she has done,