The Press. — London, England, 1853-06-18 00:00:00

JUNE 18, 1853. The upper apartment of Gore-house is devoted to the casts, drawings. patterns, and designs sent from several schools of art receiving parliamentary grants established in various parts of the United Kingdom. It is not our intention to enter into any minute ere. ticism of these performances. Though many of them exhibit application and industry, we should not be performing our duty to the public or to the stu dents themselves if we did not candidly point out the faults we detect. We are, then, obliged to admit that, though something has been attained, much re mains to be accomplished. The designs want ori ginality, spirit, elegance ; the colours, harmony and ‘ivacity ; while, in almost all, fancy and imagination, which are usually called genius, are absent. Ancient m odels should be studied, and their spirit seized ra ther than tamely copied. The skilful artist, while producing no design in violation of these principles, should combine the parts in such a manner as to give the appearance of novelty. Every design should be duly considered with reference to the use of the object itself; and no mere ornament should be suf fered to interfere with this. In furniture the degree of solidity that is necessary for durability should al ways be preserved, but care should be taken that solidity is not exaggerated into clumsiness. Every ornament should be in harmony with the separate parts, and, if possible, analogous and allusive to the purpose for which it is destined. It was the close attention to these rules which gave the Italians their superiority ; it is the neglect of them that destroys the value of the excellent execution of the modern French ; and it is the utter ignorance of them that has hitherto depressed our own artisans into mere labourers and mechanics. The French, deficient in tine feeling for proportion, but admirable in execu tion, err usually in an excess of ornament which set-% es but to mark the diligence and mechanic skill of the artist, but which diminishes rather than in creases the effect of his work. Proportion in archi tecture, and in upholstery also, is what effect is in painting, or expression iu the human face : it stands in lieu of all other beauty, and without it beauty loses all its influence. There may be as much taste exhibited in the design of a cabinet as of a house, and the principles even are not dissimilar : it should have its base, its principal story, its attic, and its entablature ; these should all bear a due propor tion to each other. If this rule be observed the piece of furniture will be handsome, even if the ma terial is not rich ; and if it is not observed, however rieh the material and minute the workmanship, it is but time thrown away. .1 HE BRITISH IRSTITUTION.—We are compelled to postprme wur notice, In type, of thte EXilibitloll. *time an Xittmturc Abroat. Rt'SSIAN WORK ON CHlNA.—There has just appeared at St. Petersburg the first volume of the travels of the late Russian ecclesiastic mission to China, entitled " Trudy Czlenow Rossyskoi Duchownoi Missyi w Pekinie." It consists of separate essays on different subjects relative to China, the more interesting as they were composed on the spot, and with the assist ance of Chinese savans. The titles of the essays in the first volume are-1. Notices on the Origin and the Chief Events Relating to the Maatchoo Dynasty in China. 2. The Genealogy of the present Chief of the Reigning Dynasty, called Mit. 3. Manufactory of China Black Ink, as well as the White and Rose Paint. 4. Biography of Budda. 5. Historical Essay on the l'opulation of China. According to the census of 1842 the number of persons paying the imposts amounted to 414,080,994, exclusive of the military and the inhabitants of the country of the Mantchoos and Mongolia. REMAINS OF AN UNKNOWN ANCIENT CIVILISATION IN EUROPE.—The late Russian engineer, 31. Wasili Larski, wbo had distinguished himself also as an archaeologist and poet, has made a discovery in White Russia (Biala Ens) which has been found recorded in his posthumous papers. When occupied in that province with the building of a road, he was obliged to bring the waters of a lake which lay considerably high into one situate much deeper and at some dis- tance. While engaged in this work he discovered in the midst of a dense forest of great antiquity. at a depth of ten fathoms under ground, a road made of stone in the fashion of those built by the Romans and Mexicans, as well as the remains of an old bride of quite peculiar structure. According to the ()pillion of M. Larski, there must have passed at Irma from two to three thousand years in changing locality thus, that where a stream had passed under a bridge its bank: could be converted into a hill en which a lake was to be found: and that, on a road which was probably only passed by caravans of men, the earth could accumulate to that height that a forest of almost primeval appearance could spring up, dating, seemingty. from the creation of the world. These countries must have been, therefor e, inhabited and partly civilised before even the time when Hero dotns wrote about the Scythians---R civilisation whose origin and connection with other systewsj ( the THE PRESS. Egyptian. Hindoo, Greek, ,tc.) is not yet explored. lf, as American papers have stated, ruins have been found in the South Sea, the Caroline Islands, a new aspect of archaeology and history seems to loom over our age.] RUSSIAN GEOGRAPHICAL. SOCIETY.—The annual re port, just published at St. Petersburg, dilates espe cially on the three expeditions contemplated by the society, which are of great import in a scientific, po litical, and economical respect. The first will pro ceed to Eastern Siberia, and is probably that hinted at, when the efforts or offers of Sir It. I. Murchison were declined by the Russian Government. The second will explore the shores of the Caspian Sea ; and the third the lands between the Duna, Don, and Wolga, countries mentioned at some length by He rodotus anti Strabo. Besides the Russian sevens engaged for the expedition, two Germans also, Messrs. Beer and Helmersen, will form part of it. The Geographical Society has also published ten maps, of which the following are the most interest ing and indispensable to modern geographers :—A general chart of Asia; one of the north-western por tion of Asia ; the north of Persia; a statistic atlas of European Russia, ,tc. In fine, eleven works on geo graphy, archeology, &c.. have been edited by the society, relating especially to Russian history, lan guage, ancient national poetry, .tc. It is, however, to be observed that even the charts are printed in Russian characters, which will induce many persons to the easy task of learning, at least, the alphabet of this great branch of Panslavic languages. GREAT COLLECTION or DRAWINGS Or MEDIEVAL ART-OBJECTS.—The tending of art and science west ward is a fact appertaining to our present times. Thus many fine collections and libraries of the Con tinent have already found their way to the museums of the United States. That of which we shall say a few words is on the eve of being disposed of, and might, we think, form a desirable complement to either the British Museum or other great art-collec tions in this country. Dr. l'uttrieh, of Leipsic, its present owner, says " that he has been engaged for the last forty years in the formation of a collection embracing the mediaeval architecture (partly also sculpture and painting) of all European countries. It comprises about one thousand well-conditioned designs and drawings of the first masters in this art, E. Gerhardt, M. Ilausehild, G. Pozzi, Dom. Quag lie, H. Stienwyk, Vermeensch, 4e., mostly of the same size (small folio), partly consisting of water colour drawings of the first order. To this is to be added a collection of two thousand engravings, litho graphs, and wood engravings, relating equally to mediaeval architecture, sculpture, and painting, and with the assistance of which Dr. Puttrielt compiled his work 'On the Architectural Monuments of Sax ony: " There can be no doubt that a coll ection of such specimens, whereby a lucid insight into the progress of medieval architecture, from its origin to its highest development, can be obtained. is to be met with but rarely, and is of high importance. Al though a disposal singly might have been more ad vantageous to Dr. Puttrich, he prefers to transfer it in its entirety to some great art-collection.—[Cata logues can be obtained from Dr. Puttrich, Leipsic, but the greatest speed is required, as the term for the sale of the collection is a very proximate one.] Tip puma. lIAYMARKET THEATRE. WE must confess we were most thoroughly dis• appointed with The Cruel Kindness, written by Mrs. Crowe, the authoress of " Susan Hopley" and the " Nightside of Nature." Mrs. Crowe's prose works display so much imagination that we looked with confidence for a more successful result. We have already expressed our opinion that English dra.• matic authors might well take a lesson from their French brethren relative to the construction of their plays ; and tothis piece of advice (which was never more needed by any one than Mrs. Crowe) we would add a friendly suggestion, that the writers for the stage shoud content themselves with proper and legiti. mate success, and not allow their ambition to attempt a class of composition which none but the greatest dramatists, and they, too, in rare instances, have ever rendered popular. A play in five acts, and in blank verse, requires an amount of poetic genius, descriptive power, and novelty of construction, which is rarely to be found combined in any one individual. Mrs. Crowe's play lacks all these qualities, and is more than usually deficient in force and gravity of ex• pression, the plot, too, is hacknied, and there is no interest to relieve the mawkish sen timentality which pervades the whole work. Of the acting we have but little to say that is favour able. Mr. Barry Sullivan is a very moderate per former, and Miss Reynolds has not sufficient power for .he part of the heroine. Mr. Howe, atlhough he is not as successful in depicting the anguish of disappointed rage. as in the violence with which he reproves his sons for their disobedience to his com mends, was respectable as the Duke or Urbino. 165 We would suggest that some aet of Parliament should be passed for the relief of innoeent and unolibniling foreign names which are now universally massacred in every theatre in London. After what Italy suffers at the hands of the ladies and gentlemen engaged in the representation of Marco Spada at the Princess's, we think that some reparation was due to her in the present instance. Mr. Rogers, who plays Lores:o Marvas of Pesaro, might with advantage be reminded that, when he rro nounees the name of his unhappy marquisate as if it werespelt" Pizarro," he shows his ignorance of metre as wel l as of geography. The play is put upon the stage with great ear.', hut the anaehronisms in the scenery show great want of judgment. The Castle and Town of l'rbitoi wont,' surely aff..ird sufficient scope for tho talent of a scenic artist without reclining to a style whieb never even pre vailed until more than a century later than the period in which the action of the play is laid. The most elaborate scene is a moonlight forest glad e, Sir. which, as it is totally opposite to anything in nature, we presume to hate been painted according to the prineiples (if any such there be) of the pre-Raphaelite school nor is it the land clime alone that is wanting in effect of reality, for we may travel man; miles before we walk in any wit; like the doll which was seen to move haekwards and forwards in the distance, and then suddenly to emerge from a bush iu the person of the lust lady and her infant child. Yl;l\t'b:,S' TitE.vritE. WE are compelled, 11 , ibm t►ant Of !pare, to po►ttpoa! our notice of Ste rdit 'mixt! use until 'WM. Neel,. FRENCII MAYS. os Wednesday lust Mine. tikardites play, Lady Tartu" was produced at this theatre ; Mlle. Rachel and M. Regnier sustaining the parts originally fluted by them at the Theism' Francais in Paris. Our opinion of this play i.. that a lthough p oul id e esbbe ability is displayed in the manner iu which some of the characters also eonceived, still that no mount of stoic fortitude would enable any impartial spectator to go through the tour mortal hours which the re presentation occupies without some sensation of weariness, more especially it' he happens to be sitting in an ill-ventilated theatre and a chair which has neither sows nor any ordinary degree of comfort. This play is, in fact, devoid of all those features of excellence which usually constitute the espeeial merit. oh' modern French dramatic writing, and is neither remarkable for skill of construction nor novelty of ideas. The phot is issust impriolathie and absurd, and the materials of which it is two • posed ere so inartistically put together that the audi ence hedonics involved in a 'affect labyrinth of eon fusion ; and without a perusal of the work it re quires more knowledge of the French language than the majority of the frequenters of the St. JunieWs Theatre possess to understand fully the manifold evolutions and devolutions of the story. Mlle. Rachel looked excessively well as Lady Tortuffe. We think, however, that she is unquestionably less great in prose, and in modern costume, than in the works of the classic writers and the garb of ancient Greece or Rome. Added to this, there is a want of ease and natural manner in her performance which, when placed in contrast with M. Regnier's most excellent impersonation of the Baron de Tourbiirre, was doubly . apparent. No words can express our almiratiou of this gentleman's acting : the mummer in which he identified himself with Isis part was beyond belief. We regret that we should again have to refer to the hateful practice of calling the actors on the stage after their exit. On this occasion the shout was raised for M. Regnier, who for some time very pro perly declined to appear. We are sure that if M. Regnier was aware that this detestable custom is thoroughly un-English, and never suffered iu our own theatres, he would not condescend to respond to the applause of those who, by their conduct, show themselves unworthy of his notice. rUsit . ROYAL ITALIAN OPERA. Wr have no novelty to report this week. lion Gio vanni seenrt postponed sine die, and we have nib 0E111.14 of Benventito Cellini. On Thuroday 3111 e. Rosin per formed the part of Alice in Roberto, in the platee of Mlle..litlifune. Mkt. Itosio acquitted hersclf wry creditably, and the substitution was att.rit matisfuctory to the audience. THE PHILHARMONIC SOCIETY. THE programme of the seventh concert WS* 1121 WHOWs : --- - Overture, Scherzo : Song, It ILL Chorus • NtAtuno, Muu tirti Final Chorus ; "A illtbittudaer Nighei oresia," XutttlealwlMx Overture, " Lecours." Befithuveu—Mutusals, " Elutes," &rett&i.i vea—Overttire, "Fretecliatz," Weber. According to the strict latter of etiquette Tra tin from any criticism upon the elements of a promenne issued under the mysterious mandate, "by special desire," and content tam elves with stating that the