The Express.
London, England, 1851-05-24 00:00:00

THE EXPRESS, SATURDAY EVENING, MAY 24, 1851

FINE ARTS.

THE DUDLEY GALLERY AT THE EGYPTIAN

HALL, PICCADILLY

I Lord Ward has set an example of great liberality
in throwing open his collection of pictures to the
iublic, without further restriction than that imposed
n the national museums. Dating from Tuesday
next, this gallery is to remain unreservedly open
for three days in the week—on Tuesdays, Widnes-
days, and Thursdays; Saturdays being set apart fur
:artists wishing to avail thjuiselves of the per-
mission to make copies or studies; such, at
least are the intentions as they were com-
municated in their present indefinite form.
The private view, yesterday afforded to the members
of the press generally previous to the opening, en- I
ables us to state that the present collection will go
far to supply that long•felt desideratum, the means of
t racing the Italian and Flemish schools to their source.
\Ye have had pictures innumerable of the most
I flourishing periods of both, but with the isolated ex-
ceptions afihrded by glancing into auction-rooms,
the alpha and true beginning of ancient art has
been completely hidden from sight and ignored.
Some people of inordinate credulity might trust to
the reiterated asseverations of pictorial annalists that
a personage of the name of Giotto lived in Florence
in !he 13th century ; but where was theproof of this?
The same of a beatific monk called Fin Angelico.
The name of Saudro Botticelli was if possible still
more obscure, being faintly recognised as a quaint
illustrator of the first edition of Dantes "Inferno."
Ghirlandaio had the traditional merit assigned him
of being the master of Michael Angelo, as Perugiuo
that of having tutored Sanzio—yet in vain would
one seek fir the slightest memento of these masters
in the National Gallery, for the " Virgin and Child"
ascribed to the lust master is u direct libel on the
chief of the Umbrian school.

All these primitive masterswillbefoundmoreorless
adequately representedin LordWard'sgallet y,and if t ho
works arc neither vast in dimensions nor rennutable
for historical importcmce, yet they bear the undeniable
stamp of their glorious origin ; and it is satisfactory
to remark that seldom has the so-called restorer lett
behind less traces of his painful scumblings and re-
touching'. The ••Last Judgment," by Amp:lieu da
Piesole, will be especially pointed at by connoisseurs
us preserved in all the integrity and purity which
made it so conspicuous in the dismantled gallery
of Cardinal Fetich, a few years since. Indisd, to
those who have visited the putative of Italy, and
those who have not, this is the most sutistactory
suhstitute. It is pleasant to look on the sobriety of
tone and calm serenity of these panels, which bring
• hack to mind days spent iii old italian academies and
palaces. In the Uftizi, or Academia de' Belle Arti, at
Florence, Fra Angelico may be as well or better
studied as in this picture of the Last Judg-
ment," but the overpowering attractions of sub-
sequent schools, blind one, in a great HMI-
MIEC, to his stupendous merits us the truest re-
presentative of that spiritualism in art which Lord
Lindsay has so ably and truthfully expounded in his
work un ehristiun art. Indeed, till that book is read,
the mysticism of Fiesolu is apt to escape, and, us it
were, evaporate in the blaze of gold with which he
invested all his compositions. Whoever has studied
Italian art has ever been struck with the jauntier in
which the Italian masters have successively fol-
lowed one another in portions of their compositions.
Of graceful adaptation there seems to be an instants,
in this Lust Judgment " of Fiesole ; to wit, the
left hand compartment, containing the horrors of the
fiery state, which give a fair idea of that celebrated
one executed by Oreagna, in the Campo Santo of
Pisa. Another little picture, also by Fiesole, re-
presenting the Virgin and Child suns/waded with
the angelic host, and radiant with gold, is u little gem;
St. I hat li ii le, the patron saint of his convent, is
kneeling in the foreground. In glancing from these
performances, and others equally minute, by Man-
(Jima, to the picture of Saint lanais receiving the
Sacrament," by Van Eyck, the first stride made to
emancipate art from the somewhat wearisome tinicality
of the miniaturists is visible. At a glance is per-

ecived the superior lustre and lower of oil as act`
hick. There may be seen the period of the highest
finish, and worthily kept up about a century later by
Albert Darer, whose "Entombment" is placed imme-
diately beneath. This, like the Van Eyck, is suiall,
and probably an early specimen of the muster.
(live Pinturiechio, Peruzzi, Giotto, and others
of early note, ure introduced in pleasing medley with
later works. Such are heads by Correggio, seemingly
studies for his cupola at Purina, which are now met
with ,$) frequently as to shake faith in their authen-
ticity. A striking head of n burgomaster by Rem-
brandt seems to be somewhat startled by the ap-
pearanee of the " Greek slave," by Hiram Powers, a
slightly altered duplicate of her attractive prototype
in the Great Exhibition.

The pictures do not amount to above 130, and are
all hung closely in one large room, which is lit by
three circular skylights; and us the sun collies
leaming down their bevelled sides, as it did yester-
day, on the oldest Italian panels, the fancy is brought
away to the adorned walls of Italian palaces. Those
who visit them will be rather pleased with the true
picture afforded of manners and customs in these
'early periods, such as are conjured up in perusing
the chronicles which emanated, some of them at
lewit, from the same cloisters which sheltered the
painter, the manuscript writer, and illuminator. But
that which cannot fail, also, to interest those who
watch the different phases which our own art under-
goes at the present time, is to see what dif-
ficulties lie in the way of those who attempt
pictorial phantoms of the past. To this aim and end
the " Arundel Soeiety," and the Pre-Ratfuelites, who
swear by the said society, are fast driving. Those
who may have been disappointed by the Imble out-
lines of the society's maiden publication, the " Life
of Fiesole," may till them up here ut least with the
originals. Here will he found the art which charms
!by form alone, and its singular lack of shadow:
though beautiful because accompanied with the faith
in the master, the mimicry of it is us absurd and in-
defensible us painting children deep crimson—merely
cherubs were treated in this the golden age of art.

REPRESENTATION 10, NORTH NoTTINGHAAIsIIIRE.
—We gave last week some particulars of a meeting held at
the house of Mr. Monett, the White Hart Inn, East net-
ford, on the previous Saturday, to " take into consideration
the present representation of this division of the county in
parliament, and on other matters of gnat and pressing
moment." This meeting originated front the following ex-
traordinary facts: In anticipation of the retirement of Mr.
flouldsworth, on aetsrunt of age and increasing infirmities,
many of the small landed proprietors and tenant-farmers
in the neighbourhood of liettlird have for some time been
casting about for his successor, but hitherto without avail.
The Duke of Portland, on being applied to, declines inter- I
ference, being satisfied with naming one member in the
person of his youngest son. Tne Duke of Newcastle also
follow the example of his brother duke, and advises his
brother, Lord Charles Clinton, to have nothing to do with
it. Earl Nlanvers also refuses the proffered seat for his son,
Lewd Newark. Thus, with the exception of Lord Middleton,
the principal landowners of the district are altogether out
of the questton. In this dilemma, about 60 or 70 gentlemen
met, as we have already stated, and, after discussing the
matter, asked Lord Galway (who was present) to vacate hia
seat fir Li tfonl, and stand for this division of the cuunty ;
but his lordship, like all the others, with the fear of a
contest before him, positively refused to give up a cer-
tainty for an uncertainty ; and thus the meeting is brought
to a standstill. As a dentate resort. however, it was resolved
'to apply to Mr. Henry Bridgman Simpson, of Babworth-
hall, to allow himself to be put in nomination. This has
been done, and the application has been equally as unsuccess-
ful as in the eases above mentioned. Mr. Simpson positively
' refuses to come forward ; and under these extraordinary eir•
curnstances it is currently reported that Mr. Henry Moulds-
' worth has been applied to, but what his answer may be we
have not yet heard, although those conversant in these
I matters have a shrewd guess that he will also refuse. What,
asks a correspondent, say the numerous horde of voters at
Basford, Lenton, Radford, and in the neighbourhood of
Nottingham, to this attempted abstraction of their votes
without intimation or asking for them? It certainly does
' appear most extraordinary that in the very centre of a dis-
trict abounding with distinguished members of the
' aristocracy end landed gentry, there should be such indif-
' keener to be the representative of a constituency of which
' any man might he proud. From what has already tran•
spired, it is quite evident that the "coming man " is not
destined to walk the field. To those generally intrusted with
the duty of securing eligible candidates, it behoves them to
' think twice before they make their next offer, as the present
result is not calculated to add much to the honour and credit
of the representation of the northern division of Notting-
! hamshire.—Lkmeaster Gazette.

SACRILEGE AT A Jews' STNAGOGVE.--On Than-
thy night the synagogue in Maiden-lane, Covent-garden,
was burglariously eaten,' and the whole of the silver sacred
vessels, bells, as., corned off.

GARDENINO OFF:RATIONS FOR THE

ENSUING WEEL.

Mom th• Gar fence's Chromiek.)
PLANT DEPAUTMENT.
That interesting little tree, the Mandarin Orange,
which flowers so freely during winter, may now ho pro-
pagated by putting cuttings into a brisk top and bottom
heat, under a close handglass. As MIMI as they are fairly
struck, pot them off singly in rich light SOIL and replace
them iu the glass for a few weeks, when they may be gradu-
ally inured to the light and air. Pinch out the point. of the
I leading shoots frequently, to keep Orchids
them dwarf. Ohids
I now require the 'met INeral treatment to induce them to
fully develope their interesting characters. A good and
healthy growth will be ensured by a warm humid atmo-
sphere, with fresh air so admitted •
as to avoid draughts, and
by shading with thin rinse during the brightest pact of
! the day. In the afternoon the plants should be gently
dewed over, using a syringe, with a fine rose fur the
purpose; we have often seen such work done with a
coarse syring, and the water driven through it with all
the force possible ; but such a practice is very injurious to
the plants. Some of the stove plants which commenced
their growth earliest in the season, will soon lie about
completing ; and that it may be properly matured,
they will require to be exposed to stronger light, and a
freer admission of air than has been afforded them during
their season of growth. These hints, at this time, will
particularly apply to those winter-flowering plants which
produce their blossoms upon the young shoots of the
previous year's growth. Among these we may mention
the delightfully fragrant and abundant blooming Fran-
eisreas, and the stove species of Jasminum, es- .
pecially the one known as J. multitlornin or J. hirsutuna
than which a more charming winter plant does not exist,
if it be grown very strong during the summer, and well
ripened.

FORCING IMPAUTMENT.
Where nines are grown on the planting out system. the
soil should be entirely renewed once in three or four years.
The time fur this operation must be lest to the judgment
and convenience of the cultivator, but advantage should he
taken of a time when all or nearly all of the older plants in
any pit have perfected their fruit, and this is a very fa-
vourable 1C1154,11 for the purpose. The younger plants
(which have been put iu one after another, as vacancies
occurred) after being well watered, should be carefully
lifted with balk, and set in a close shed while the soil as
being changed. Hut if any rennin of those which
have already shown fruit, they may be left stand-
ing, with a small mound ofearth about their nsits ; or,
if nut very far advanced, they may he removed with hails
to the back row. If this is carefully done, the plants will
not receive the least injury, but will rather be improved ;
fur we always find them progress much faster after being
moved with halls into a fresh belt Of RM. The soil should
consist of about one-third of the best peat dud can he Mr;
tained, and two-thinly of rich turfy loam, with an admix •
tore of sand, according to the requirements of the other uni-
terials. The plants fit- the bath row should be planted In'-
fore the soil is put in fur the second one ; and the remaining
rows proceeded with in the same order, to prevent all un-
necessary compression of the soil. If the new aril is mode-
rately moist, it will be better to withhold water from the
toots for a few days, to allow the plants to commence root-
ing; and until they are fairly re-established. a moister at-
mosphere must he 'kept up and the pity shaded rather more I
than usual. Vineries.—A liberal supply of air in the:Yr:houses
is the last preventive against scorching. In finally regal:it-
lam the grapes of the latest crops, which are intended to hang ;
through the winter, rather more sLnuld be cut away titan ;
from those intended for earlier taw, that the bunch, when
ripe, Islay hang looser. This will detract a little fnon their
appearnwe, but the free circulation of air a 111111 l gst tho
berries will do much to pry:wry° theta from the effects of
damp weather.

AND

........
Attention should now be paid to the reserve stock, in-
tended to supply the gaps which will occur, and especially
in some of the beds which are filled ut first with transient
annuals, and which in the course of the season will
require entirely renewing. To meet these demands,
we prepare a bed of coal attics rolled solid, and lay upon
it two or three inches of twit composed of chopped
turfs, leaves, and comm. sand ; in this we prick out
young plants, of suet. kinds a- are likely to be required,
at distances of from ti inches asunder. In the lire
paration of plants for dower garden masses, we have tried
various mcth.sls of erononefsu.q 1.16011( unit materials, and
for several years,have adopted ill. as the Malt. fly it the
plants Is-rome established much soner, and the cost of many
thousands of small pots is annually ',ave.!. As the planting
out will itow be nearly finished, let all the beds be gone
over, picking out weeds, lagging down, or tying
up such as would blow about with the wind,
• and giving them every possible assistance, to
enable them smadily to till the bds. Herbaceous
plants of all kinds are now growing rapidly, and mmy of
them, unless immediately supplied with stakes, will have
grown out .of all shape, or the wind will blow them about
land break them. Make everything in till, department clean
and tidy ; and keep the turf and walk.. in the neatest order.
Span hand lights and frames may Is• placed in shady ,ittta-
lions, and made use of for propagating double wallflowers,
double rockets, choice dianthus, phloxes, iberis manner-
sirens, and many other select herbaceous and half -shrubby
plants.