The Express.
London, England, 1849-04-02 00:00:00

EXHIBITION OF THE SOCIETY OF BRITISH
ARTISTS. _ _ _ _ _

The spur of eorepetitiot;Ziem. nu produced
good effects, which are visible in the improved aspect
of the exhibition of the Society of British Artists; for
though we may still bl vexed by the mannerism and
exaggeration of Mr. Woolmer, the oommonplac3 re-
pethens of Mr. Bhayer, and tue imitations of sub isg
artists to the manner and style of more celebrated
men than themselves, these evils are so tempered by
the infusion of clever productions, that the whole
comb'ned produce a pleasing effect, and leave the
impression that this year's exhibition is the beat that
has been seen within the walls of the society since its
foundation.

The moat startling pictures for conception and exe-
cution are those of Mr. Anthony, who combines to a
deep study of nature a method of light and shads so
vivid and powerful as to astonish the beholder. Mr.
Anthony follows none of the conventional rules of
colour. His brush leaves u much in the shade as in
the light. What ho endeavours to produce is the
reality of nature, and he succeeds in brmging out in
strong relief every stone of an Irish round tower, as
well as every stick in an Irish cabin. Ireland is the
exclusive theme of Mr. Anthony's pencil, and his lu-
cubration' is art are certainly far more pleasing to
dwell upon than those on the state of that unfortunate
country pat forth by the pen. Its dark stormy
skies, its deeply tinted landscapes' albeit perhaps
somewhat exaggerated, are full of local character.
The bildest production of the artist is a view of the
ancient round tower and stone cross at Monseerboice,

Louth, under the circumstances docribed by Mr. Petrie,
in his " Irish Antiquities." There is enmethlneawful
in the scene which makes one turn with pleasure to
the more congenial sunset scene. "The last gleam of
day—County Clare." The sun has sunk behind a
fiat horizon, a gorgeous red gleam still remains,
colouring a email mass of clouds on the left of the
picture, and reflecting sharply on the divers features
of the nearer landscape. Not the least successful by
the same hand are "The Cottage Home," and
"Thoughtful Hours," which show capabilities of
figure drawing in conjunction with the more usual
style of the painter. Turning from landscape to figure,
from the sublime of landscape nature to the humble of
Savoyard poverty, Mr. Huristone claims attention.
His " Reversion in Expectancy " reminds us by its
treatment of some of Murillo's boys. A great richness
of colour is here combined with freedom of execution.
As a ccmposi.ion, the picture is less plessine,and the
leas said about a Newfoundland dog, who does not
adorn the picture, the better ; a bottle out of which
one of the boys is drinking reminds us of an anecdote
of a certain actor who, on the stage, drank oil in-
stead of wine by mistake. " Preparing for the Pests,"
also by Mr. Hurlstone, is very ric i in colour, and
several portraits testify to the industry of the artist.
Mr.Baxter's"Wayfarer" has all the qualities for which
that artist is distinguished. The hands of tie Agues'
are finished and true in colour; but it might be
objected of the heads that they bear a family resem-
blance to those exhibi ed elsewhere. This is an objeo-
tion which we are sure Mr. Baxter could obviate._

Or su:h pictures an Messrs. Foggo's " King John
signing Ma4na Charts" and Mr. Bromley's " Mery
Queen of Scots accusing John Knox of Treason," we
would fain say as little as passible; but the impress-
eon left by both is, that the will is far superior to the
way, and that if these gentlemen were to enter an
easter path they would do better, and perhaps in
time become fitter for that tato which they have pre-
maturely thrust themselves. Nor can we omit to
men•ion Mr. Salter's picture of the "Judgment of
Paris" as one in which imitation seems to have been

he chief ambition, and a sort of middle Nay has been
dren between reminisoesees of Ruben. and Mr.
Et.: . with a result of which eery beholder will
judge. Whilst on this particular also we may men-
tion the i:•tures of Mr. Herring. Leaving aside those
circular can sees in which the heads of three horses ge-
nerally form attraction, and of which we have
had so many repetition., would draw attention only
to "Market Gardeners," in ran treatment of every
feat are of which we fnd the pecuhatities of Mr. E.
Landeeer carried oat. If the spectator -.ld divest
his mind of the fact that there is such a persoute ex-
istence as Mr. Landseer, no doubt this picture wood
strike him as a most excellent one. The horses are
admirably done—the vegetables also; the figure.
be7og, perhaps, a little too small for the cattle; but
then the grave objection exists which we have
pointed out.
Not for from a picture of Una and the Lion, by
Mr. Ifold—a subject, by the way, which is somewhat
worn oat—is a sketch by Mr. Lewis, called a
" Widow." There is an aplomb quite startling in this
production; but boldness is generally successful, and
to this must be attributed the success of this little
picture. Here also are some pictures by Mr. Prentis
and Mr. Pidding, which are equal to what they have
previously produced, though we admit the style is not
a favourite of ours. Mr. A. Johnston is not so happy
in the classic style u in "Roger and Jenny' at the in-
stitution, as a glance at his Mary Mag&lene" will
show. •
Amongst the landscape painters, Mr. Clint distin-
guishes himself by divers small, and highly-finished
sketches from nature, most of which are such faithful
portraitures that we could recognise the sites. Com-
paring these small and delicately-finished views with
a large but imaginative "sunset" we gave judgment
against the latter, than which nothing can be more stilted
and untrue. Mr. Prue does not come out in such
strength numerically as last year, but the character
of his pictures is monotonous, white, and powdery.
The work of this artist most worthy of attention is a
view of a paper-mill at Reading. A small picture
by Mr. S. R. Percy is quite a gem in its way. The
unpretending subject renders it interesting. So also
we may mention the little Kentish views by Mr.
Wilson, jun. " A Poston' "is a charming li tle bit
from nature, affording a strong contrast to an equally
charming picture by Mr. Brunniug, in which, how-
ever, there is this disadvantage, that you see at a
"lance that it is finished in the study, whilst that of
Mr. Wilson is finished from nature.
" The Borrowdele Pass (Cumberland)," by J. W.
Allen, is not so successful as other wild views that we
have seen by the same hand. There is a chalky ap-
pearance on the hills which is not to be found in the
original ; but Mr. Allen has well rendered the damp
appearance of that wettest of all wet vales. Mr. Mar-
shal's "Morning on the Llugwy, North Wales," is an
old familiar scene, well rendered ; and so is Mr. J.
Wakers's " View of Highgate." Mr. J. Danby's
"Falling in with a wreck, the day after a storm, is
also a very pleasing little piece.
In the water-colony room we noticed a nicely
finished drawing of " Ragland, Monmouthshire," by
Mr. Kendal, and a neat view of King James's bed-
room, Wroxton Abbey, Oxfordshire, by Mr. E.
Everitt.

inuott.
HER MAJESTY'S THEATRE.
Another of Verdi's operas—" I Due Foszari "—was
performed on Saturday evening.
Coletti's personation of the aged Fosears was a fine
specimen of dramatic art. In the character of Jacopo
Foseari, M. Hordes acted and sang as might have
been expected from his previous performance of
Ernani ; that is to say, neither well nor ill. He
is intelligent and correct ; and, though he gene-
rally satisfies the judgment, be never moves the
feelings. The yart of Litcresia was beautifully
sustained by Madame Giuliani who in several
'Runtime, especially tne parting scene between
Inicrraia and her husband, showed herself an