The Express.
London, England, 1862-03-17 00:00:00

FINE ABM
MACLISES PICTURE IR

NEW PALACE,

The great picture, representing " The Meeting of
Wellington and Blucher after Waterloo," upon
which Mr. Maclise, R.A., has been engaged during
the last two years, is at length left as finished in the
care of the Royal Commissioners of Fine Arta.
Many as are the large pictures Mr. Maclise has ex-
ecuted, this is considerably the largest, and it is
without a doubt his masterpiece the painter seem-
ing invariably to distinguish himselfi in exact pro-
portion to the scale on which he works. The
picture occupies the whole of one of the large com-
partments (which are 47 feet long) of the Royal
Gallery communicating with the Rouse of Lords,
and it contains upwards of 50 life-size figures of
men and horses. Not merely for the size, how-
ever, but in other respects, this is the moat
important work hitherto executed at Westminster,
if, indeed, it is not the greatest national
monument of painting this country can boast. We
rejoice to hear that Mr. Mediae hasaccepted a com-
mission to paint the corresponding compartment on
the opposite side of the gallery, and has already
cominenoed the " studies' subject to be " The
death of Nelson at Trafalgar." This is a theme
altogether unlike any Mr. Msclise has hitherto
attempted • although scarcely more so then the
subject he has just mastered so triumphantly, and
we doubt not, therefore, that he will be equally
suoceesfuL

The painting just finished is not only of the
highest importance for its merit, but it is also eat-
tremely interesting technically, being the first
great work wholly executed in this country upon
the system of stereochrome or water-glass painting.
We would, however, warn the reader that if
he goes in the afternoon to see this magnificent
picture he may, especially if the sun shines
cheerfully, have his pleasure somewhat diminished
by finding several very beautiful but entirely mis-
appropriate colours vaguely creeping over the pic-
ture. This is attributable to the picture being lit
by rays which pass through stained glass. This is
one difficulty the artist has had fo contend with in
the progress of his work ; and now, when finished,
a whole emblazonment will sometimes fall from the
"storied panes " gorgeous with many-coloured hues,
auks, and azure, or purpure, and vert about the
Leads of the two commanders or over the face of
some wounded or dead man. Several of the artists
engaged at the new Houses of Parliament have
made a strong representation to the authorities
respecting the desirability of removing, or at all
events reducing the inordinate quantity of stained
glass in the windows lighting their works. In the
Commons corridor the evil is chiefly felt • indeed,
here the frescoes can scarcely be seen at all in the
dim but not religious light. Clear or grey (grissille)
glass should here at least be introduced and it is
only due in simple justice to the artists to make
such modification as would allow their works tobe
seen.

MUSIC.

--•--
ROYAL SOCIETY OF MUSICIANS.

The one hundred and twenty-fourth anniversary
festival of the Royal Society of Musicians of Great Britain
was held at Freemasons'-hall on Saturday last. The chair
wee occu; led by the Earl of Wilton, the presideot of the
day ; the attendance of members and visitors was very
bags, and the proceedings were of an exceedingly satia-
factory sad intarestiog description.
In the coursed the evening, as usual, a list of the dona-
tions just received was read. It included, among many
others, the following :—From the Handel Festival Com-
mittee, 105/. ; Messrs. Cocks and Sons, of New Burlington-
street (their sixth donation), 501. ; Mauro. Addiaon,
and Lucas (sixth domation),lo/. 10s; G. Norbury, Esq.,
101. 10a. ; Charles Rawlings, Req., 101. 101. ; the Maharajah
Dhuleep Singh, 101. 10s. ; the FAA of Wilton, 101. 10s. ;
Mr. anediot, 101. 10s. ; sad Mr. Costa, 101. 10s. The
total amount sou above 3001.

I number of ladies adorned the festival by their prepuce.
They sat, u usual, partly in the gallery and partly at the
bottom of the hall. Their accommodation and comforts
were carefully attended to ; bat still they were not where
they ought to have bees—seated round the table in the
midst of their friends and relatives. We wonder that the
present barbarous English auk= has not been done away
with long ago.

Mire Arabella Goddard, Dime. Moreno. Lancia,
Mee. Laura Barter and Yr. Swift, will take
part In the ant subscription concert of the Vocal
St. James's-6H, on Wednesday netts
larch 19th. Mr. Aptowunas and Mies Arabella
Goddard will perform a duet for pianoforte and
harp en themes from Linde di Chaneouni, Dlr. Jo°. Thomas
and Mr. Antennas@ will perform a duet on two harps. The
choir of MO voices will introduce same new and important
features in the ecemert, the whole being, as usual, under the
direction d Mr. Beesdiet

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