The Express.
London, England, 1853-03-28 00:00:00

SOCIETY OF BRITISH ARTISTS.

The Society of British Artists have opened their
exhibition in good time this season, and have gut, on the
whole, a very good set of picturis together. There are eh.
.entees—such as Mr. Anthony, who has ceased to be a mem-
ber of the society—whose loss is noticeable ; but the walls
are filled, and the result is the average uttractivencu. The
attien-e of corporate purpose—of ti aces of a school aiming
at definite leatons—da more to be mourned than the depar.
ture or decease of individualities. The loss of Mr. J. Alien
(dead)ch conspicuous
bines, is onlyicuourasthatof to report Mr.
on Anthonywl but, for
the ;
what
is
Mr. k'. J. Hutleone, the president of the society, holds
achieved," anntd, a
not at all on what is possible.
a corresponding place of honour ou the wall. ; coutribu-
Hug the finest picture in the exhibition, and by
far the best piece of composition and colour-
ing that ever came from his easel. Be has it pictures
here this time; but we refer especially to No. 170—o Ibe
Appearance of Columbus in Spain," representing a
young boy and an old man, travellers, receiving drink and
toad from a friar, at the gate of a Spanish convent. The
boy is Columbus—the elder wayfarer the father of Colum-
bus—and the incident is historical; bat the merits of the
picture are apart from this story, any other suggestion
accounting for the group would do as well. The tone is
exceedingly tine and pure; the drawing and expression
admirable; composition and colouring speaking thatiuctly
of that perfect Italian school iii which Mr. Hailstone often
studies, but whence he never before, that we remember,
carried so superb a prise. His other contributions (we pass
over the portraits) are, if not sulking, thoroughly worthy
of his reputation at this exhibition. 1. Descendants of
Marius and the Oracle (14i) is one of his familiar groups
of boys, depicted, in this instance, as at play among ruined
columns. Here again the picture dues not respond to the
anticipation raised by the title; they arc bop of
a southern sky ; but they are lint distinctly Ita-
lians—the columns, nut the boys, tell us of Home;
and that is a failure, if, us we Taney, the title is a phrase
taken from a sketch of It mien yumins, by Dumas. "The
Shepherd Buy of the South," (2du) has the usual merits
of the artist and his usual loth—rigid mannerism not only
in treatment but in choice. Passing on to VS—an "Ita-
lian Shepherd Boy "—we g, t the same picture, and quote
King Lear upon the changes of location. There is, non-
ever, a little variety ; the next picture by Mr. Ilurlstone
is of an Italian girl. That is something. Mr. Tyne
favours his admirers with only one picture this year; sod
that is unworthy of him. It is au illustration of how woe
a dashing brush Can become a loose one ; he does not at-
tempt a title or description it. the catalogue, and we will
imitate his discretion, warning him that only a Turner can
bas Turnerian. But Mr. ilmlitington compensates with pro-
fusion and perfection. He has eleven pictures;
and they are gems. Lakes, and rivers, and land-
scapes, there are in various and exquisite beauty; some
of them, certainly, too hastily turned out of the painting-
room, and betraying hurry iu opaque skies, hut all glossy,
glancing, and brilliant. Particuiarisation is unnecessary
—they are Boddingtons, weak in parts, faulty here and
there in detail, but generally the must airy, sunny, and
agreeable of landscapes. Mr. West (to continue the
catalogue of landscapes), has some dark, odd-looaing, but
boldly-painted sketches of Norwegian scenery—with, in
addition, the usual Welsh scenes in which this artist, to
whose peculiarities we have gut accustomed, excels. The
sea pieces of the younger Wilson are too numerous—that
is, he paints too much ; but there is breeze nod salt in his
must careless works, and he is as evidently travelling in
power as tu reputation. The senior Willisms has one good

.
picture and several poor ones • ' but the tune of the great
elan Williams is fully sustained by Mr. S. Perry's solitary
contribution (421). The other VMS of the family
have each something, and each is respectable ; but, on this
occasion, hardly more. Mr. 'Pennant's landscapes are, as
usual, admirable—in especial an au, umnal glowing picture
(77) of an unpronounceable paradise in tilamurganshire.
Mr. J. C. Ward sketches Irmo Monmouthshire (112) with
hardly leas effect. Mr. G. Colt has an Isle of Wight lane
scene pretty and pleasieg. Then there is one Devonshire
landscape—Lee like—by the Lao Mr. J. Allen, with beau-
tiful perspective and clear, crisp touch ; such a picture a.,
for itself and the circumstances in which it is found here,
oiy:aid. bringpictpictures
tifil high price.
year
comP'aerindgothueumt
but delicate handling and nice perception are, of course, not
absent from those which he has contributed. Mr. Pettitt
has three extraordinary works in the rooms, and which, for
want of other acceptable description, we must term land-
scapes. in one instance be has painted a picture which
is immediately taken for one of Anthony's—a bad compli-
ment, since it is not Anthony's; but in the '• Seventh
Vial" (428) he has given us a productiou which could only
be Mr. Pettitt's. The Seventh Vial has poured down
vitriol and blood, mixed in equal proportions, upon canvas
three feet by two ; figures are put in ad sib., a statue tum-
bles here, and a rock topples there—steel that is a great
Martin picture ! Let us Lope that we shall never see such
another. Among the landscapes let us count applaudingly
a picture full of sweet repose, cattle and figures—Evehing
(498), by Mr. W. Shnyer (the member if the society). ii
only for their great name, but also for the thorough merito-
riousness and artistic finish of their effects, we should not
omit mention of Welch Sketches by the Misses Basmyth—
neat and pleasing. For want of a better place, let us also
here direct attention to Mr. Scadrett's clever picture, a la
Roberts, of the Interior of St. Michael's, Ghent.
The subject picture's are, as usual at this exhibioion,
scarce; but there is a class of picture contributed by Mr.
Woolmer, Mr. Baxter, and other members, always
interesting. No one can round a limb, or paint
in a dimple better than Mr. Woolmer; but he
fails in the heads of his nymph. end demi-nude
young ladies; he generally omits a background: and
he sins in this most important respect—that aiming at
voluptuousness he exceeds in licentiousness. Mr. J. B.
Hill illustrates Milton's description of May in one of the
finest pictures in the room (161). A group of girls and boys
gathering blossoms is spiritedly drawn, and though the
colours are too hot and glaring the effect is charming—all
the more so, that it is pi rceived the embers that are in the
cheeks and trees wilt pale down in time. Mr. R. Buckner,
in the " Study of a Roman Head," has contributed a piece
of beautiful colouring, with the addition of meaning—
sweetness and sadness—in a face of more than beau-
tiful feature. Mr. Baxter's figures are as usual nu-
merous, and as always charming—a Lucky Lockitt,
conspicuously. Mr. Noble is perseveringly plentiful in
his contributions on the principle, probably, which induces
la speculating grisette, trusting iu la fortune, to take many
lottery tickets ; but he fails to fix attention. Mr. C. Earle'
was a great hope of the society's exhibitions, but he does
sot appear to progress : there is daring and purpose, but
time is rough and clumsy execution still. Mr. Hawkins
is ambitious and common-place : in a pretentious picture of
Nymphs disarming Cupid. Mr. Zeitter bass host of vigorous
drawings, in oil and crayons—and we like the oils best, but
Iwe like all. Mr. Desaurne's picture of the " Fall of the
Rebel Angels," should bear a moral against presumption to
the artist: he his only succeeded in painting bad figures
sticking head undermost in the mud—that is the atmosphere
of Mr. Dmeurne. There are several attempts to catch the eye,
by an appeal to the epic odes of the ton familiar "Uncle Tom.
All of them are failures except one—a simple, grand, back
head, by Mr. H. C. Whaites, spoiled, however, by a black
background, which obviously should have been white or
red. Mr. Dale's heads should not be forgotten ; they ITS
exquisitely drawn, and picturesquely placed. Mr. Cole's
" Bacchante," in the arms class, is a miracle of perhaps
too delicate tints.
Ameag 600 works brought together by a society whose
rules are genial and inclusive, it i• natural that then should
be fonad some offensive monstrosities; and these erratic
silliness,s should not be too rigorously criticised. But this
year there has been evident looseness in the selectious.
' These are too many subjects for mirth ; and the society's
1, fame consequently stiffen. Paving from these to the Water-
colour Room, it *sly remains for us to notice luscious fruits
lima flowers
I by Mrs. Duffield (Mr. Duffield is as excellent
as usual in his oils), and much good miniature painting—
amit manipulation by Mr. S. 11.. Lock, coiling for great
praise. An " Ophelia," by O. P. Boyce, limo the gazer by
its delicate texture and discriminating touch.
[ Among the company in attendance on Saturday were,
1 the Archbishop of Canterbury, Lord John Russell, the
1 Bishops of London and Hereford, the Marquis of Chol-
imendeley, the Earls of Shaftesbury, Lichfield, and Orkney;
Lords Viscount Beresford, Goderich, an -Mandeville, Lords
I Landes, Milford, Seaman, Radstock, Byron, Colborne,
I Dudley Stuart, M.P., John Manners, M.P., Charles Towns-
bend, Sir James Weir Hogg, Bart.' M.P , Sir J. Reid,
Bart., J. J. Yeah, Buller, Bart., Sir H. Caider, Bart., J.
T. D. Aubrey, Bart , Sir R. P. Jodrell, Bert., Sir Henry Y.
Webb, Bart., Colonel Sir J. J. Hamilton, Bart., Sir Ro-
bert Inglis, Bart., M.P., C. B. Wall, Esq. , M.P., Sir IL
V. Carden, Bart., Aldermen Wire, Salomuns, and 'doom.
Sir Gardiner Wilkinson, F.R.S., &e , &c.