The Press.
London, England, 1858-04-03 00:00:00

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THE SOCIETY or FEMALE ARTISTS issued invita-
tions to a private view at the Egyptian-hall on Mon-
day last; but, in consequence of the number of
paintings sent in, the preparations were not by any
means complete. Several pictures remained un-
hung ; drawings in chalk and water colours stood side
by side with paintings in oil ; copies and originals
were mixed together ; and the catalogues were still
in the printer's hands. Under these circumstances

we postpone our remarks till next week.
THE SOCIETY OF BRITISH ARTISTS does not hold
very high rank among the London exhibitions, nor
enjoy a very large share of public patronage. The
private view has passed over, and the world of art is
not perceptibly convulsed ; "the exhibition is now
*pen," says the board in Pall-mall, bat Suffolk-street
looks nearly as placid as usual. And there is good
reason for this. It is worth any trouble to see a fine
picture ; but the epithet is rarely applicable to any-
thing in these rooms. Out of more than nine hun-
dred items in the catalogue we may, perhaps, find
some twenty or five and twenty worth examination ;
but the process of sifting is tedious and even pain-
ful. Still it is only fair to admit that the gallery
possesses some corresponding advantages. If the
visitors are few, there is the more room for them ; if
there is not much to study, at least we may study at
what hour we please; there is no necessity for an
early breakfast ; if it requires some nerve to place
oneself in a room the walls of which hardly afford a
square foot where the eye may fall without pain,
what endless rest and refreshing dwell in that green-
baize floor ? Truly we have much to be thankful
for : there is a bright side to every question if we
will but look for it. Even in the desert, too, there is
an occasional oasis; a careful search will be re-
warded; we shall find pictures here and there which
show real talent and careful study of nature ; we
linger before these, and for a few moments "plea-
sures," as Dr. Watts sings, " banish pain." There
are Boddington's landscapes, endlessly repeated, no
doubt, and often artificial, but never without merit.
In his " Windings of the Wye " (188), there
is truth and beauty too, Syer gives us rocks and
broken water, autumn afternoons in Wales, well
composed, good in form and colour, pleasing
in light and shadow, and wholly free from exaggera-
tion. Pyne was an artist once, though fallen into
evil habits now. Of his six contributions, four are
mere flimsy devices of prettiness, and in No. 733
his nice perception of local scenery is so conspicuous
that " The Vale of Somerset " might be taken for a
view in the Alps. But his " Lias Rocks on the
Dorset Coast" (468) is in a much better style.
There is life as well as colour; wind and rain, and
air thickened with spray. " The Last Load," by G.
Cole (394), is an excellent study of our English
climate. The sky is full of gathering clouds and
light rain, the sun throws pale and broken light over
the distant landscape, and a bright gleam falls upon
the waggon which is bearing home " the last
load." The picture is not highly finished, but
shows careful observation. Cobbett is evidently a
great admirer of Frith, and his " Flower Girl" (401)
is almost open to the charge of plagiarism ; but if
not very original, he paints with care, and has a
better eye for colour than for form. The mother of
" The First-born" (77) is a very pleasing person,
but hardly a cottager's wife. We cannot help fancy-
ing that she was painted literally from the artist's
housemaid, even to the lace cap at the back of the
head, and we are confirmed in our opinion when we
find the same figure on the other side of the rootr,
topped with an old green bonnet, mounted on a
donkey, and indulging in a " Gossip on the Coast."
Still there are good points about all his pictures, and
the careful finish of the draperies deserves especial
praise. No. 83, by T. Roberts, is called " The
Reward." An infant has undergone the process of
washing, and the mother is uncovering her breast.
The picture is full of truth—coarse truth, animal
truth, filling the whole canvas, and leaving no room
for sentiment. The action of the mother, with her
feet on tiptoe, sustaining her sprawling child on her
knees alone, while with both hands she unfastens
her dress, is real enough in all conscience, but a
sow suckling her young would excite as much
feeling. The drawing, colour, and detail are all
excellent, and, repulsive as the picture is, to these
we cannot refuse our praise ; the artist seizes our
admiration, but it is most unwillingly given. “ The

Music Lesson " (107), by the same artist, is prettier,
but inferior in execution. But, having gone through
these, we have still nine hundred more before us.
Here are smiling females by Baxter; feeble rustics
by Gill, smooth rustics by Hill, silly rustics by
Clater and Pidding ; Henzell sends fishermen, and
Wilson sea-pieces after Stanfield. Then in land-
scapes the list is endless : there are purple land-
scapes by West, cold-green landscapes by Ward,
black landscapes by Niemann ; there are landscapes
with figures by Shayer, in which we cannot decide
whether the landscape is worse than the figures,
or vice versa ; there are landscapes and cattle
by Tennant, with a similar open question ; and
pasteboard landscapes by Pettitt. Woolmer de-
lights in the contrast of raw green and flesh-colour,
and Gosling has a similar weakness for herbage
and red earth. Zeitter is still aiming at the effect of
worstefil-work on coarse canvas, and does not despair
of succeeding in time. Noble contributes mild
illustrations of history, and Salter takes Shakespeare
under his protection ; while Foggo's incidents from
India and the Crimea, with a little more attention
to finish, might rise to the rank of public-house
signs. Last; but not least, comes Mr. Hurlstone,
the president, with his annual batch of figure-pieces,
very curious works of art, painted with a shaving-
brush, if we may venture an opinion. Is it not
painful to think of all the time, labour, and materials
thus wasted? We know that everything has its
uses, but man is left to find them out. Doubtless
every one of these pictures would have admirers, but
we must take the trouble to inquire where they live.
It is evident they do not reside in the neighbourhood
of Pall-mall. Some three or four of the artists
should be turned adrift to seek their fortunes in
Trafalgar-square or elsewhere, and then the society,
thus purged of all incongruous matter, should seek a
new abode. If it were to hire rooms in Whitechapel,
and reduce the charge for admission to one penny, it
might, perhaps, secure a full attendance, but pur-
chasers, we fear, would be few. On the whole, we
should recommend the society to migrate to some
land where art is still in its infancy, and throw open
its exhibition on April 1, 1859, either at Timbuctoo
or New York.

piteg Blida aittl oittg amtuiput,

FRIDAY EVERDNI.
VERY little demand has prevailed for money this week—at
least it has been comparatively limited—though the com-
mercial acceptances usually at maturity at the beginning
of the month have rather stimulated the inquiry during the
last day or two. Except from this merely incidental cir-
cumstance, the Money Market has received no impulse
whatever; and very little business has been done either at
the Bank or by the discount-houses. The rates remain
without alteration.
The 6,000,0001. loan of the East India Company has all
been taken, within about 200.0001, at the reserved price of
97 and upwards. None of the leading firms opened sub-
scriptions ; consequently it was practically taken by the
public, although it was foretold that the amounts of the
debentures, I ,0001. and 5001. respectively, were too high.
The allotments are already at a premium of a half to one
and $ half per cent.
The Bullion movements of the week have been unimpor-
tant. Only about 10,0001. have been sent into the Bank;
and the demand far the Continent seems to be entirely
arrested. The amount now en route from Australia is
915,0001., of which 127,0001. brought to Suez by the Simla
is expected to arrive on Tuesday or Wednesday. A con-
siderable proportion of this aggregate, probably half of it,
is overdue at the present moment.
Consols have receded since our last, but they have been
steady at the lower quotations. Last Friday they closed
at 971 to ; yesterday at 961 to I. The fall is attributed
to the depression in the railway market, and to sales in
preparation for the Indian loan.
Exchequer Bills have declined le. The present quota-
tion is 3.55. to 395. prem.
Railway Shares have fallen from one to two per cent.
The rapidly diminishing traffic receipts caused by the in-
activity of trade have induced heavy sales, and there have
been no purchases to countervail the general tendency.
Such purchases as have been made have been in Preference
and Guaranteed Stocks. The depression has in some
degree been assisted by the failure of the attempts to
bring about a termination of the ruinous competition to
and from the north between the London and North Western
and the Great Northern companies.
Foreign Stocks are about the same as last week; but
Turkish Six Per Cents. have receded about a half per cent.
Banking and Miscellaneous Shares have been in mode-
rate request, and previous quotations have been maintained.
The Trade Reports of the week appear to concur that
commerce is reviving, though very slowly.

FROM THE LONDON GAZETTE.
Tuesday, March 30.
BANKRUPTS.—Joan Delis and Besrantx Danis, George.
street, Westminster, builders and oontraotore—.WlLLlAX
POWELL, Lowestoft, grocer—UnzAlw Biurtan, Sherrard-street,
Golden-square, tailor—GeotlGE ARMITAGE,
City, iron merchant and commission agent—Gsoeon Ltszrr,
Sheffield, Yorkshire, busk manufacturer—Gem:Gs num),
Kidderminster, bookseller and staLioner—CnAntes HOLDER.
Great Winchester-street, City, carpenter and builder--Josnue,
Hanson and JAMES HANSON, Huddersfield, Yorkshire
spinners—Josern IdtrciyeeL, Sheffield, • •
JONES and C8.A1t144 JONES, High-sheet,
chandlers.

Forkshire ,____woollea
builder—Wm.:rut
Islington, tallow.
5m1441

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