The Express.
London, England, 1853-04-25 00:00:00

FINE ARTS.

SOCIETY (OLD) OF PAINTERS IN WATER-
COLOURS.

The 49th exhibition (whichoPens to tho public to-
day) of the old Society of Water•colourists will be found a
more than onlinanly delightful addition to the attractions
of the season. The exhibition is an extremely full and fine
one : a lighter course worthy of preceding the Royal Aca-
demy feast. The exhibition does not carry the water-
coloinist's art any step further, and does not discover new
artists to share prominence with the established reputa-
tions.
With regard to variety in the exeibiters that is not
wantiag; and obviously we cannot expect Fiehliogs and,
Frippe to turn up every season. There can be no doubt,
however, that there is yearly improvement in the actual
materials of the water-colounst.
A general conclusion such as this, however, may be
arrested by the picture which occupies a conspicuous
part of the gallery. It is by Mr. John Gil-
bert, so well known as an illustrator or cheap
periodical literature, who has entered, with en undoubtedly
bold step, the field f historical painting, and contributed a
large and striking work representing the Shaksperean in-
cident of Richard 11. resigning his crown to Bolingbroke.
Here a new function for water colours is attempted. The
painting, in heavy, and what may be called dramatic
colours, of a stage tableau; and the drawing being admi-
rable, the colouring marvellous, for the material, and the
subject well chosen, the inevitable inquiry is—why not
have painted it in oils? For in water colours it is excel-
lent in the sense that podography is excellent, the wonder'
being how the ton held the pen at all. A picture painted
as much in body colour as in water colour, and with the
shadows assiduously gummed, is a compromise which
side by side with a picture (we select the name
because their works hang in contrast) by J. Jenkins
is as startling as would be a picture by Anthony near a pic-
ture by Copley Fielding. But Mr. Gilbert is original, at
least in the use of his materials ; and leaving the society to
arrange about such " unities," we may admire the spirited
drawing and fine effects of his work. Such defects as
there are are palpable at a glance ; the scene took place in
Westminster Roll, and that, all but two windows, is left
out of the picture, which wants atmosphere and the eccle-
siastics present are painted as amused and rather jocose
spectators, although tibaitspeare makes them grieved and
defying actors in what they regarded as an infamous depo-
sition. But the two prominent figures convey finely the
spirit of the sceee—Bolingbroke's and the King's—the King
gazing into the glass, the very book wherein all my sius
are writ," bein " • mockery King of snow, standing be-
fore the sun of Bolingbroke.' The rest of the grouping is
good ; and though there is much monotony in this artist's
view of the human head and fig ure,his barons are finely bold ;
the highly finished painting of the costumes and accessories
completing the characteristics of an excellent work. This
is the only picture of the class in the room ; but it is worth
while, fer its novelty and intrinsic merit, to particularise it
at this length, because high art in water colours is an expe-
riment, and we defer to a canon, though not greatly re-
specting it, which insists on priority of attention to " high"
historical art contributions.
_

As usual, the strength of the exhibition is in the land-
scapes; and Mr. Gilbert may be sure that strength in water
colours is most naturally attained there. Mr. David Cox
meets the eye whichever way it is turned, except up-
ward and downward ; but we doubt whether he gives
' great gratification even to his fastest friends, although
unquestionably he still fixes the largest share of
attention, and evokes the most constant controversy,
the latter result being a great success for rising artists how-
ever dubious a triumph for Mr. David Cox. His power
and genius obtain the usual admissions, bat with the con-
dition that he is slightly too perplexing if not indeed too
slovenly. Mr. Copley Fielding is presidentially promi
neat in works as glancing, bright and beautiful as he ever
contributed ; and wo can only criticise as Marshal Soult
did with the Spanish Prior,—" we prefer them all." Mr.
George Fripp excels this year, specially in some broad
effects from the Highlands, " Ben Cruachan "
(109) being a fine illustration of his admirable
style, and one of the pre-eminently fine works
of the collection. His " Sunrise in the Highlands"
(32) is as beautiful for the animals as for the wild scene ;
and would appear an illustration of Scott's description :
The eatler'd monarch of the waste
Sprung from his heathery conch in haste,
Like crested leader, proud and high,
Tamed his beate'd frontlet t.) the sky,
A monseat rased adown the dale,
A moment snutrd the tainted gale.
_ _

Mr. W. C. Smith, more and more becoming a favourite,
paints the same Ben Cruachan from another pint of view
(41), and with but slightly inferior power—sending other
pleasing pictures, of which we need mention only one—a
" Way through the Woods" (11) in Sussex, which is pecu-
liarly happy ; the delicate 1 rustling in the sun and
dancing in that wind which comes from the sea too—a little
too opaquely painted. Mr. C. Bentley has ten or eleven
works, Irish and Scotch mountain and tea scenery, not in-
dicating a felicitous selection, but abounding in power, un-
equal in parts, and spoiled sometimes by a want of balance,
but always conspicuous. His " Sunset after a storm" (72)
is a general example. Mr. T. M. Richardson excites im-
mense approval. His "Deer Stalkers, Glen Nevis" (18d)
is particularly fine; but here also his prevailing
notion that nature is trimmed and outlined is so
visible as to interfere with admiration ; the middle
parts of the picture being neatly painted, and spoil-
ing a picture of distance. No 82, an Italian landscape,
by the same artist, has striking beauties; the foreground
(the border of a lake hot with a day's whole sun) with
figures, is painted exquisitely. Mr. Gastineau has divided
his sketching tour equally among the picturesque parts of
Europe, and the proofs of his capacity to see pictures in
nature, are very numerous—all neat, nice, and careful.
Mr. D. Cox, jun., imitate. no one, not even himself; but
the last fact is not quite a merit. He has opened a varied
and pleasant portfolio from France. with results which en-
title him to congratulation. Mr. W. Turner, Mr. Nagel,
and Mr. W. Evans (of Eton), and Mr. 8. Palmer, are in
strength—Mr. W. Evans passing most of the class to which
he appertains in a delicious sketch of a meadow in
Hampshire (50) ; Mr. Turner ensuring notice in
a Spring Study (144) ; and Mr. Nsftel despite
too heavy a touch and too great a preference
for autumnal tints famishing several pleasing
works. Mr. C. Branwbits paints " A Winter Morning"
(198) with effects of snow which evoke approbation. Mr.
S. P. Jackson, another provincial artist, advances rapidly
in estimation far such sketches as No. 67—" A Squally
Morning on the Devon Coast." Mr. Duncan has one or
two sea pieces of great merit ; and Mr. John Callow has
taken familiar marine subjects, such as the sailing of an
emigrant ship from Gravesend ; with results redeeming the
works from the too oonunon-place characteristics of that
class of pictures. There are bits of sea in all Mr. John
Callow's picture which are unsurpassable for cleverness.
Mr. Whichelo has the usual clever " Coasts."
Among the landscapes we ought, perhaps, to include Mr.
J. Jenkins's pictures ; but the point is not clear, and we
prefer heading the list of story and figure pictures
with his name. We find no one who knows better the true

possibilities of water-colours than Mr. Jenkins; and in
evidence of what we regard u his great talent, we would
point, in particular to ' Affection " (87), where a peasant
group, in a bower of vines, are revelling in a gloriously
assay day. The lightness and airiness of this picture are
fascinating; and the painting of the playing, laughing
children, is of the most brilliant character. The same
artist, in two companion pictures (214 and 223), has Slue-
'rated tangible contrasts in rustic appearances on the French
and English sided of the channel : and both of these are of
extreme beauty—first, for the texture of the work, but
most of all for the expression which he puts into his
figures—se se tot call to indicate but to tell the
story. Mr. Rhine*, in a similar way, but with much
lees Wei, sharmlngly anecdotical in his contra
butler. I 110 and 121 he has sketched Irish pageants,
and the ameeption siogests • sense of humour rare enough
among artists, sad time little croaks being also wonder-
fully misses theft& asemeasyi aft may in the seizing of
Irish gligeleguimissi ammeter, but in the very set of an
Irish petticoat. It sum to us that Mr. Riviera has got
into fresh ground ; sallow best advice to him is to work it
to the Unseat Mr. W. Hunt fails in details ; but for what
be eau do in cos thought into faces we refer to " De-
-1 voiles" (264). Mr. has Stephanofilan subjects
of great finish—one (190 representing • bunting party of
cavaliers interrupting a German mass, well painted—sad,
together, all adding liveliness and variety to the exhibition.
The lady contributors send numerously—Miss E. Sharpe
and Mrs. Criddle hardly • working out the sen-
timental points they unwisely select ;—the senti-
ment of Mrs. Criddle is staringly ludicrous; but
Miss Rayner, in en "Italian Beggar Boy" (168),
suggesting that, with patience, the theory of the equality
of the sexes may be applied to water colour societies. Mr.
Frederick Taylor's horses and dogs are not to be passed
over smug the collection of figures. This year he paints
his quadrupeds with sustained excellence ; and by intro-
ducing Waverley and the Baron of Bradwardine (266), be
adds a story which dose not make them less interesting.
We may group the other principal pictures into one
clue. First es to Mr. Bug's astonishing by power over
his materials ae nitwit se ever he is happy in his selections.
A scene of priests and seslytes, with lights, et the ruins of
the Jupiter Towns Tonsple, at Rome, is a superb work,
startling in its sec likeness se colours, but harmoniously
toned, and manipulated fats marvellous finish. He has one
or two heads, which are studies, in the emphatic sense ; but
1 is himself most vividly in 68—Marino Faliero and the Spy
—upon whom he has piled robes and daggers, such
as only Carl Hug can paint. " Primary colours"
have their representative in Mr. Alfred
Fripp, in two pictures, both abounding in per-
ceptive power, and in technical skill, but both grating
disagreeably on the eye. Pompeii, the City of the Dead"
(165), is a vast vault with the fierce sun lighting up its
many-tinted rains ; and that is en appalling picture. "II
Dolce Far Niente" is a Neapolitan fisherman gambolling
with a child ; and the effect, from similar reckless hardness
and crudeness, is u ghastly. Mr. J. Burgess, jun., takes
us, in excellent works, to his favourite continental streets
and corners. Mr. Wm. Callow's " interiors" are elabo-
rately admirable. Let us not forget the Bowers and fruit
of V. Bartholomew and Mary Harrison and G. Rosenberg.
Among the visitors were the Duke and Duchess of
Argyll, the Marquis and Marchioness Camden, the Marquis
and Marchioness of Ailesbury, the Marquis of Lansdowne,
the Earl and Countess Grey, Earls Grosvenor, Carlisle,
Bradford, dtc., &c., the Bishops of London and Winches-
ter, several of the foreign ambssadors, and Royal Acade-
micians.

Saturday a

—..-
bill in the Commons was printed to enable the govern-
ment to appoint a taxing master in Ireland for common law
business at 1,0001. a year, an assistant master at 6001., and
a clerk at 2001., with superannuation allowances.

CONFERENCE ON THE STATE OF MERCAA:
TILE LAIV.

A conferenco of deputies from all the great sea.
ports, sail from many of the manufacturing towns, is to be
held in the offices of the Liverpool Chamber of Commerce,
on Thursday and Fridav next, when the following proposi-
tions are to be submitted :
1. That the grievances under which the trade and cam-
, mem of this country labour in respect of the anomalous
state of mercantile law, and .he imperfect working of the
judicial sjstim, demand immediate consideratinn; and, in
order to insure the efticieney of any remedial measures, it is
essential that they should be suggested or approved by the
classes for whose benefit they are intended, and by whose
experience they ought to be tested : that, as the most im-
portant interests of the empire are now indissolubly asso-
ciated with its commerce, whatsoever tends to interpose
hindrances to the freedom and safety of its operations, is
contrary to all sound principle, and ought to be removed.
2. That the efforts of the London Law Amendment So-
ciety, in the cause of law reform, are gratefully recog-
nised oy the trading classes; and that the proceedings of
the conference held in London in November last, on the
assimilation and consolidation of the commercial laws of the
United Kingdom, are formally approved and adopted by
this meeting.
3. That however beneficial the measures reeommended
by the London conference may prove to he when carried
out, they do not pr.vide a remedy for the more immediate
and pressing evils of which the trading classes complain,
and which are only partially touched by the provisions of
the recent Common Law Procedure Act.

4. That the leading grievances under which the trading
classes, especially in the provinces, suffer, are mainly con-
nected with the administration of? the law, and may be
classed under the following heads:
I. The want of a summary, economical, and authoritative
mode of settling disputes, arising out of the absence of per-
manent local tribunals, possessing complete jurisdiction and
compulsory powers, to which access can always, tend im-
mediately be had.
11. The irritating, because unnecessary, expenditure
attaching to the present system exemplified in the necessity
of conducting all preliminary proceedings through the me-
tropolitan courts, the retention of technical pleadings and
forms of action, and the rules of etiquette among profes-
sional gentlemen in respect of fees and the employment of
counsel.
111. The withholding of equitable jurisdiction front the
ordinary. law courts, thereby disqualifying them from ad-
ministering entire justice, and not unfrequontly driving dis-
putants into another and distant court.

IV. The want of commercial (men as) judges, in cases
where mercantile usage and experience is concerned.
And that the aggregate of these evils is such as frequently
to deter traders from enfircing or defending their rights,
and to be, in fact, tantamount ton denial of justice.
6. That the remedial measures beet calculated to put an
end to the evils complained of, point to the establishment of
permanent local courts, with compulsory powers and equi-
table jurisdiction, within towns and districts of certain ex-
tent, for the adjudication: of all mercantile disputes, wherein
the judges should consist, at least partially, of mercantile
men, and the procedure be informal, after the example of
foreign tribunals of commerce, whose working in every
country where established has been successful and satis-
factory.
6. That petitions to both houses of parliament, letting
forth the substance of the foregoing resolutions, be prepared
for the signature of the chairman and deputations.
Other subjects, to which the attention of the Conference
may be invited, if there be time awl opportunity—bank-
ruptcy law and its administration ; the law of partnership
and limited liability.—Liverpool Chronicle.