The Express.
London, England, 1862-11-03 00:00:00

FINE ARTS.

THE WINTER EXHIBITION OF CABINET PICTU ALS.

An exhibition of pictures in the dreary months,
when fog and gloom reign supreme is particularly welcome.
and it is encouraging for the Arts to see in the general su-
periority of the present collection at the French Gallery in
that what was ten years ago a very hazardous
undertaking has now become almost an institution. It is
not to the artists that we are indebted for these winter ex-
hibitions, for they are a body that seem to require a period
of hybernation and incubation combined to produce those
new beauties which come forth every year with the flowers
of spring time, but it is the commercial element at work
amongst the painters, as it is everywhere else, that in this
case also operates for the public benefit. These pictures
es a rule bear, an air of being popular and saleable, none
show those eccentricities of genius which we see so often
where the painter is the master of the feast, and conse-
quently the conventional tastes are largely appealed to.
Being then essentially a dealer's exhibition, we must forgive
the general lack of originality, and not complain of being
shown again pictures which were seen at the Academy and
other exhibitions of the year. However, it should be
noticed, as a proof of the advancing merit of the Whiter Ex-
hibition, that to the present one some of our first painters
have contributed. There are pictures by Stanfield, David
Roberta, F. M. Ward, J. Philip, T. Creswick, F. R. Lee,
Sidney Cooper, Analell, F. Goodall—all of the Academy,
with works by Llonell, Hering, Baxter, and other artists of
repute. There are a few small pictures by foreign painters,
chiefly of the French school ; one, especially noticeable, by
Madame Ileoriette Brown—is study for one of the Sisters of
Mercy, in her famous picture of that subject so much
admired in the international Exhibition.

Mr. E. M. Ward, /LA.., has contributed two of his histo-
ricalpictures, which would alone give importance and interest
to the collection : No. 36, "King James 11. receiviog the news
of the landing of William, Prince of Orange ;" sod No. 95,
" Marie Antoinette's final adieu to the Dauphin in the
prison of the Temple." Both are, we believe, original studies
for the large pictures which Mr. Ward painted some years
ago, but recently worked up to the highest finish as cabinet
pictures, and improved by certain pentimenti which occurred
to the painter under his more matured consideration.
The lady artists are extremely well represented. There
is Mrs. Hay's "Reception of the Prodigal Son," which it
will be remembered was so favourably noticed at the
Academy. The picture is better seen here, and
the strong points in the drawing and composi-
tion are more appreciable. Mrs. F.. M. Ward's
little pictures of children give great interest to the exhi-
bition ; they are touched with a surprising feeling for child-
life—by no means a common gift amongst artists—and very
sweetly painted. Miss Edwards contributes several pictures
of considerable artistic merit ; Mins Emma Brownlow, Mrs.
Oliver, Mrs. C. Goixirmuir are also among the exhibitors.
As • winter exhibition this is, on the whole, the beet we re-
member; it contains a larger number of pictures, and at
greater proportion of thee, possessing points of interest thap
will be found attractive to the visitor.

DISTRIBUTION OF PRIZES AT THE LONDON Mb.
MASKS' INarrnrriom.—On Wednesday next, the prizes and
certificates obtained by the members of this institution at
the last examination of the Society of Arts, together with
the book prizes awarded to the classes by the local board
of examiners, will be presented in the theatre, by Mr.
Harry Chester. For three successive years all the candidates
sent up from the institution for examination by the Society
of Arts have succeeded in obtaining prizes or certificates.
THE INCOME OF THE LATE CITY SOLICITOR.—
The net annual receipts of the late City Solicitor from 1848
to 1862, averaged very nearly 2.1001. In the year 1860.61,
the net receipts were upwards of 2,2001.; in 1861-2, more
thee 3,0001. The income was derived from several source.
From the City cash there was paid to the late solicitor an
average yearly sum of about 1,4001.; for parliamentary
work, nearly WO/. ; from the Commissioners of Sewers,
some 7001. ; from the Irish Society, about 150/. ; from coal
whippers and conservators of the name, about OW.—City
Press.