The Express.
London, England, 1861-03-23 00:00:00

FINE ART&

EXHIBITION OF FRENCH ARTISTS.

The eighth annual exhibition of works by French
and Flemish artists is now open at the gallery, 120, Pen-
man. The present collection is on the whole u interesting
as arty of he predecessors, and as likely to ware the
fashionable favour these exhibitions have hitherto *eyed.
A visit to such a collection of choice cabinet pictures nearly
ell executed with • knowledge of the principles of art, a skill
in drawing, and a finish in which every part is subordinated
to the harmonious tone of the whole, to which few English
artists can pretend, whatever their merits of colour and
execution, is indeed a refined treat. It is true that some of
the greatest French painters are not represented at all
here—the large scale !of their works rendering it impracti-
cable in the space available. The general character of the
cullectioa is nevertheless very high—selection being much
more strictly made than in our own exhibitions. There are
indeed scarcely any indifferent performances.
There seems to us little doubt that the whole French
school is within the last few years improving in colouring ;
and, from the estimation in which roma English masters are
now held in Paris, it appears our neighbours appreciate this
particular excellence in British art. In landscape this is in
fact distinctly avowed. It now remains for English painters
to emulate oar allies in certain qualities as difficult of at-
tainment. Foremost among these is dewing, but " tone,"
harmony, and composition must be added. Good drawing
is the rule in French art and the exception in English.
Thus, however, will never be acquired while the English
artist is educated in his profession so much lees systems-
tically, carefully, continuously, and thoroughly, than the
foreign artist. We would earnestly recommend the &seal
student and amateur to study some of the choice examples
of the rake of negative excellence—that is to say, almost
faaltleesness, and of quiet good taste, with nothing obtrusive
either in colour or execution, which Mr. Gambert ham
placed within his ,each in this gallery.

TN. FINS ART EXHIBITION TOR DUBLIN.—At
the Fine Art Exhibition, which the Royal Dublin Society
have resolved to bold this year at their premises is Kildare.
street, there will be exhibited a series of copies from works
of art at Hampton-court, arid in other coffee:time belonging
to her Majesty, Mr. Parkinson, the secretary, having yea.
erday received permission to obtain them.
THE Nuts HOURS Musa:mum—A special dele-
gate meeting of the carpenters and Jolson of Loudon was
held on Thursday evening, Mr. Mildred in the chair. The
position offered by a few of the muter builders was then
and the following resolution was passed uuani-
measly :—" Resolved, That we. the representatives of the
=dem sad joiners, in special meeting assembled, and
by the instructions received by our constituent.,
epee not to secept the proposed offer by the employers to
pay their workmen at the rate of 7d. per hour, as It doe', not
any way meet the request made by the workmen for a
reduction of the hours of labour, and we pledge ourselves to
use all legal means to obtain nice hours as a day's work at
the present rate of wages." (In considering what the week-
men should do where the new regulations are to commence
oa Saturday (this day), after due deliberatiou the fol.
resolution was proposed any carpenters
sod ms throws oat of employment oe Saturday art for
Befog* too:wept the 7d. per hour offered by the master
builders shall receive every support and assiatanos from this
meeting." To this an amendment was proposed, " That
this meeting advise the carpenter, and joinery to Mime-
diately enter a strong protest to their employers against the
7d. per hour, informing them that they cannot consent to
it, but that ley are willing to work on, nutter the aims
terms seat pewit, until the nine hours question stud' be
settled ; and this meeting recommend the men to work on
during the next week, and if on the err pay night they are
offered the 7d. per hoar, they refuse the rme, only taking
their presetrated wages; and this meeting Pledgee itself
to render every support and assistance to any thrown out of
employmenta for refusing to accept payment by the hour."
On a show of hands there were— for the amendment, 31
votes ; for the motion, 17 ; the only difference between the
motion and amendment being whether the men should
work one week under the new arrangement or not work
wider it at all. After some further briers the meeting
adjourned till Tuesday evening, March 26.
THU UNIVZIWITIID4 AND INDIAN CIVIL SERVICE
EXAMINATIoNs.—A/ yet Dublin and the Queen's Colleges
have won the chief honours, but the Scottish universities
(Aberdeen excepted) have not taken very honourable places.
We are informed, however, that Cambridge is now making
decided preparations to assert her claims to • better posi-
tion than she teld last year. The university has appointed
Major Stevens teacher of Hindustani. Corpus Christi Col.
lege has founded an English lectureship, and conferred it
on the Rev. Alexander IYOrsey, 8.D., for many years
emir master in the High School of Glasgow. The Rev. R.
Lamb, late fellow of Magdalen,Ltraining mea is the
armed and mathematical subjects. Mr. Word, of St.
Peres, has recently commenced is the same line. There
are three teaches. of German, two of French, and one of
Italian, so that the new &mead has created a new supply.
le • ear or two the effect will, no doubt, be visible in the
exae lista ; bat we doubt whether the desultory es-
lc teem of the Cambridge arrangements will be
onorteequal to the well.plsnned learn Class" of the
Usiressity of Dublin.—Coif Service Gaunt.
BIRMINVIRAN MUSICAL FENTIVAL.—IL is now an-
sauced that the oratorio to be performed on the Wallies-
day 'nasals( at this festival will be Samson.