The Express.
London, England, 1867-02-04 00:00:00

LANDSEER'S LIONS.

To see the Nelson monument at last complete
after having so long served as • byword for neglect and
delay, is a surprise. It is, however, something to congra-
tulate ourselves upon that the undertaking is actually out
of the hands of the artists—architects, sculptors, and the
great painter-sculptor who has put the finishing stroke to
the work ; for, whether the whole monument commands
universal approval or not, all must agree that anything
is better than an unfinished monument to one of the
greatest of a nation's heroes. Even at this moment, when
the public gratification welcomes the representative noble
animal so nobly presented, we cannot forget the dreary
scenes that for years disfigured the finest site in Europe—
Um column that grew so slowly through the soot•grinied
scaffolding, and at last stopped for want of sap, a dwarf
short of its proper height by forty feet, till in despair
the capital was placed upon it, and the statue made its
appearance on the top. Compared with that period of
crippled growth, the last eight years which Sir Edwin
Landseer ban employed in his part of the work have been
felt, lot as a neglectful delay, but rather as an impatience
under great expectations. Some piquancy was lent to these
by the doubt as to what a great painter would be able to
do in • line of art so entirely out of his method ; but that
there was reason for the faith in a great artist, and that
we have not waited in vain, has been witnessed in the
crowds of admirers who have surrounded Landseer's lions,
looking up at them with wonder and awe, as if every
moment they expected the monsters to rise and
walk from their pedestals. For our own part,
it is this life-like look, more than the size of
the work, that gives so fine a character to the figures,
and one could scarcely help crying out " Roar, roar !" as
Donatello did when he cried " Speak, speak," to his
statue. A sculptor never achieves more than when he
thus creates out of the clay and animates the dead stone
and bronze. Landseer may well rest satisfied with the
kind of tribute that has been paid to his work by the voice
of the people, and we question whether anything in
modern sculpture has produced a deeper conviction of the
power of art in the popular mind. C.inova's two colossal
lions on the monument to Pope Reazonico, in St. Peter's,
are asleep, though undoubtedly the grandest work that
the somewhat sickly genius of the sculptor ever led him
to attempt. They are, however, considerably smaller
than our Landseer's lions. Thorwaldsen's famous lion,
carved out of the living rock at Lucerne, is • dying
animal, and dying without a spark of courage, which
was quite • mistake of the artist's, for as all lion-
bunters tell us, he is most terrible in his death
throes. Landseer has seized the fine point of
the animal in expressing his terrible power in repose, or
rather in reserve, for he looks far away over the sea,
watchful and ready. In repeating this figure as the one
best expressive of the intention of the monument, without
attempting to vary the artistic effect by choosing different
attitudes, Sir Edwin only obeyed a just feeling for the
general "keeping" of the monument, which, however
Giurere it may be in style as a whole, is certainly classic,
and therefore to be treated after that manner. It would
be ridiculous to suppose that an artist who could model
such a lion as we see could not have made three others of
the some blood. Still it remains to be said that Landseer
bassepeated'a picturesque and naturalistic lion,where Greek
ert,wouhl have required an ideal and conventional form.
Dasatello, Gian Bologna, or any of the great roasters of
the Renaissance, who, like our Landseer, were great na-
turalists in their art, would have varied their lions. The
fault, if it be one, is not chargeable to Sir Edwin Land•
seer, for be could mould no other than a natural lion, and
he atay fairly trust to the naturalness of his work for any
suggestions of the ideal. The misfortune all along has
been in this as in all our national undertakings in art, that
the one capable mind was not at hand for the whole work,
and thus all unity and completeness of beauty have been
missed. As a consequence we have an obvious defect of
thislnature, which has been very generally remarked in
the disproportion between the colossal lions and the co-
lumn with its statue, which are made to appear too small
and insignificant from loss of height. Confession
-I good for the soul; and we can never hope
to be absolved from our past sins in art our
moaumental sins, unhappily be it said until
we promise to amend our ways. We are indebted
to Sir Edwin Landseer as much for this example of
good art, as for the hope he has aroused in the future,
and the inspiration his work must exercise amongst
artists. His Nelson lions are an immense improvement
upon the Wellington horses, and all that studio stock, and
the sculptors ought to be deeply grateful to him for the
lesson. For the public, we desire to recognise the earnest
and devoted exercise of his genius, in the successful ac-
complishment eta task which must have taxed his strength
and energies to the utmost, and to thank him for hav-
ing given us at lust one public work of art of which
the nation may justly be proud as an honour to English
art. 1

THE MEMBERS TOR BRIDGWATER AND TIIEIR
CONNTITUENTS.—On Saturday night the members for
Bridgwater, Mr. A. W. Kinglake and Mr. P. Vanderbyl,
met their constituents at the Town-hall. In reference to
reform prospect, in the coming session, Mr. Kinglake said
there was no reason why the p:::6086 government should
not bring in a more liberal measure thin that of the late
government which was such a moderate one. If they did
not deal with the question the liberal party must act, and a
reconstruction of that party would then be necessary. In
his opinion that could only be obtained by first attaining
to a convergence of opinion. They must not try to have
anything perfect, but what the liberal party as • party
could support. His advice was of the old.fashioned kind—
follow the leader ; he meant the one in the House of Com-
mons, and they could not have • better than Mr. Glad-
stone. They must have a measure which, without being
democratic in such a sense as to endanger their liberties—
for that was what many people thought—should still be en-
tirely welcome and congenial to the high-spirited people
of this country. Mr. Vanderbyl was in favour of • mew. ,
sure of reform that would not reduce the franchise too
low, If •. bill was brought in lie would take for his
standard salt a one as Mr. Gladstone would promote. and
vote accordingly. Thanks were voted to the two user's.
ben for their services in parliament and their addresses
just delivered.
RernEsEsTarioN or COLCHESTER. —Mr. T. .1. i
Miller, M.P., has forwarded a letter to Mr. C. H. Hawkins,
one of hie principal local supporters, in which he expresses
his desire, with the concurrence of his constituents, to
accept the Chiltern Hundreds on an early day after the
meeting of parliament. The hon. member added that be
wished to deny that he bad been urged by some members ,
of his party to take this course, and to SMUTS his friends
that his decision entirely resulted from the state of his
bealth,whieh has not improved so much as toenable him to
discharge his duty is the House of Commons. Nothing, he '
continued, would distress him more than to know that he
had deprived Lord Derby's government of • vote at an :
important crisis. Under these eircuinstanoes, Mr. E. K.
Kerslake, Q.C., who has been selected as a conservative
candidate for the impending vacancy, has commenced
canvassing. Dr. Brewer, his liberal opponent, has also
been in Colchester during the last few days.
REPRESENTATION OF EAST SUrFOLX.--A vacancy
has occurred in the representation of East Suffolk,
Sir E. C. Kerrison, Bart., having on Saturday issued an
address announcing his intention to retire. The hon.
baronet states that he feels he has not sufficient strength
thoroughly to attend to the requirements of so large a
constituency. Sir E. Kerrison continues I have
therefore determined to resign my seat before the meeting
of parliament, so that no detriment may ensue to you,
either is public or in private business from my uncertain
health. I cannot write this farewell without very great
regret, nor can I conclude it without desiring once more
to advert to the gratitude which I owe you for your
generous confidence. Though thus unhappily disabled
from serving you as one of your representatives in parlta-
meat, I shall never cease to take the warmest interest in
all your local affairs, and in any measure tending to pro-
mote your prosperity and welfare."
Mr. Henry Thurston Holland, of the Northern
Circuit, has been appointed legal adviser to the Colonial-
office. The office, which has been created by the present
government, precludes the holder from practising at the
bar. The salary is 1,201.11. per annum.