The Press.
London, England, 1858-05-08 00:00:00

443

better than the expression of the husblnd in the
centre picture, or than the moonlight on the river in
that on the left. The idea, too, of the mother and
chill utterly separated, ignorant, perhaps, of each
other's existence, but gazing up at the same instant at
the same moon, is singularly fine in itself. Near this
picture hangs O'Neil's " Eastward Ho !" a sad subject
too, but not so hopelessly sad—a healthier, happier
sorrow, if we may use such a phrase—husbands and
wives separated by duty, not by sin. The troops em-
barking for India are crowding to the side of the
' transport to catch a last glance of their mothers and
sisters, their wives and children, who, absorbed by
their grief and blinded by their tears, are slowly de-
scending the steps of the ladder. It is a picture of
hard hands and tender hearts ; and we may congratu-
late ourselves that now•a-days hard hands find their
way into pictures ; it is not long since everything of
the kind was carefully cleaned up and smoothed down.
There is no nonsense of this sort here: the sailors
are real sailor., rough and ready, not dandies in
checked shirts and blue trousers; and the ship is
not idealized at all, but a very palpable mass of wood
and tar and rusty iron. And the expression is not
less genuine; there is no puling sentimentalism
about it, all is true and hearty. We are inclined to
consider this the best picture which our late wars
and fightings have produced for us; far better cer-
tainly than Mr. Paton's "In Memoriam.' This is a
scene from the Indian rebellion—armed sepoys
rushing in upon a group of terrified ladies and chil-
dren. Of this subject Mr. Paton has made—what
shall we say ?—a very disagreeable picture; we can-
not use a stronger word. It is not terrible, it is not
pitiful, it is not pathetic; it is merely disagreeable.
And there is nothing in the execution to compensate
for other faults; we can hardly believe tbat the
painter made use of any models—that it, was painted
from the life at all. _

"Flower-girls in Town and Country" is the title
of two pictures in one frame by Mr. Horsley. The
first shows withered, sickly girls offering bouquets to
the roysterers at the door of a bal masque, and the
second a group of healthy, comely, country children
gathering wildflowers in the hedges. The idea is
not particularly striking ; there is contrast enough
between happy life in the country and beggary in
London, but the flowers are a mere accessory ; the
girls who sell flowers one day would deal in oranges
or matches, or anything else, the next. The pictures,
however, are very good in themselves ; there is more
life and vigour in the revellers than is common with
Mr. Horsley, and his country scene is painted with
his usual grace and delicacy. The contrast of lights
is not so strong as it should be; it would be impos •
sible to ascertain from the picture that theatres are
usually lighted up with gas.
Next week we may be able to give some account
of Mr. Frith's large painting. At present it is hardly
possible to get near it, and the protection of a police-
man is considered necessary to preserve it from
injury. In the meantime let us draw attention to
two pictures in the north room round which no
crowds assemble—" The Stonehreaker," by J. Brett,
and " The Hayloft," by Rosarius. Both are perfect
marvels of accuracy and finish.

MR. Ctruacn's picture of the Falls of Niagara
is at present on ♦iew at the German Gallery in New
Bond-street. It represents the beauty rather than
the grandeur of the celebrated cataract; and is
painted with a patient labour and quiet truthfulness
very different from the crudity and exaggeration we
are accustomed to look upon as characteristic of
American art. The broken rainbow formed by the
sun upon the spray which fills the air, is painted
with extraordinary success ; it is bard to believe that
anything so radiant can be produced by opaque
colours. Landseer's portrait of the Princess Royal
in her baby days is also exhibited at the some
rooms. Both pictures are being reproduced in
chromolithography by Messrs. Day and Son.

HER MAJESTY'S THEATRE.—In the ensuing week
Mlle. Titiens will impersonate the dramatic part of
Donna Anna in Don Giovanni, and Piccolomini will
be the enchanting Zerlina. The Trovatore, which
with its superb cast has attracted overflowing
audiences during the past week, will be repeated on
Thursday next.
MR. CHARLES DtCKENS gave a reading of his
" Chimes," at St. Martin's-hall, on Thursday evening,
and the large room was tilled to overflowing. He
explained in a few words the circumstances under
which the little book was written, and read the well-
known tale with such earnestness and such vivacity,
that no costume or scenery could have added to the
effect. Such reading is as good as acting. The
" Chimes " is one of the most painful of all his
smaller works, and if most of the audience testified
their approval with their hands, some also "applauded
with their eyes."
MADAME SZARVADY.This admirable
better known to our readers as Wilh el m ina
make her first appearance in London this'
first Matinee Musicale, at Willis's-rooms,
morning next.

Dle pianiste,
IS Clauss, will
,seuson at her ,
on Monday