The Express.
London, England, 1868-04-30 00:00:00

FINE ARTS.

The most prominent picture in M. Dor6's collec-
tion, as regards the place assigned to it and the nature d the
subject, is that professing to symbolize the triumph of
Christianity over Paganism. In the upper part of the
canvas, which is an upright oblong, the figure of Christ
holding the cross is seen in the midst of • shining host of
angels, Himself the centre and source of the heavenly
light, which renders His form and features indistinct from
excessive effulgence. Immediately beneath are exter-
minating angels, wielding flaming swords, one of whom
takes the lead of the rest as they dart in pursuit of the
fleeing gods of heathendom, rushing pell-mell with the
symbols of their worship and attributes of their godship
into the Hades below. The gods and priests of Egypt
and Assyria, of Gaul and Scandinavia, of Greece and
India, are included in the rout, some standing out defined
and promineut, in bright and gaudy tints, and sonuiveikd
in shadow and vaguely outlined. If the effect of the whole
is wanting in that telling contrast of light and shade which
the opposition of celestial radiance and infernal darkness
suggests and H. Dorf has so often shown he can master,
there is in it, carried to • high degree, the skilful ara-
besque-like wapitis( of an involved multitude of figures
also distinctive of the artist ; but neither for harmonious
colour nor correct drawing can the work be praised, in
lieu of which we have theatrical tawdriness and botchy
tirelessness. Next in importance ranks the life-else Ulna-
tration of monastic life called "The Neophyte," presenting
a row of monks in white woollen frocks, at their devo-
tions, the central 'figure being that of the neophyte, whose
youthful visage, half-wrapt, half perplext look, and lithe,
upright form, contrasts with the fogy-like oddities on
each side of him, whose grotesque mode of
worshipping seems to give the young- devotee
pause. The intention of the subject is certainly
discernible, but the heed of the neophyte the merest
sketch, and the heads of the other monks, though more
clearly defined, are not to be upheld as examples of the
distinction between character and caricature. Beyond
dexterity in the treatment of the uniform garb of the
monks and the credit of inventiveness, more superficial
than real, in their varied poses, and the characters and
expression, of their beads, there is nothing else noticeable
in this clever pseudo picture. Rightly marshalled accord-
ing to the received code of dignity for works of art comes
the scriptural illustration, which might be entitled
"Gideon choosing his soldiers." Here we have a con-
fused host of warriors gathered about the sheet of water
which was to afford the criterion divinely promised, by
which the Jewish chieftain was to select his following.
The time is sunset, as it seems, and the mingled
gleams green and ruddy on the disturbed waters
have that lurid effect of which Dorf poetesses
the cunning, and the huddled, and variously employed
watts of men, horses, and camels, from which arms
a forest of spears, and which culminates on a piece of rising
ground, whence Gideon with his staff commands the
scene, calls forth as regards its design the qualities in the
artist with which we are so familiar. The disposition of
light and shade and colouring, however, are of that flashy
effectiveness which would be given by a scenic artist to a
painted canvas destined to complete • stage crowd and
support a momentary illusion. " Angels guarding
Moses" is the work in which the artist seems to hare
kept most within his means. The monotone of colour—
the conventional greenish hue of night—instigates no sins
of omission Decommission in the matter of colour, and the
ghastly and floating angelic figures evoke the fanciful
feeling and sense of graceful flowing form characteristic
of the artist. The sleeping babe is, however,
totally unworthy, even takes as an average specimen
of budding hantanity, of solicitude angelic or earthly.
Of the less ambitious subjects, the Spanish manes the
Alpine landscapes, the studies of peasant and vagabond
life, we may say that thee, is in them all the readiness
and dereniess, the fertility and versatile power which
Done can decy M. Dore ; and the subjects being more
directly studies of actual nature, there is less discrepancy
between the intention and the accomplishment ; but of all
it must equally be said, as of the works already more
minutely canvassed, they are not paintings in the serious
acceptation of the term. The exhibition ought to have
this weight with the young artist who may be induced to
visit it—to show how much of what he has to study so
label ionsly to attain may be converted into were knack,
and therefore to assign a higher value to the fastidious-
ness which long hesitat s over the choice of a subject and
the eouseientiousness which dictates its realisation through
a course of close and patient study and labour, and by
means not always lying so Invitingly open as the beaten
paths to conventional effect which M. Guetave Dore treads
with such athletic and untiring vigour.

THZ AAVLUM /OR DlOll. —The annual meeting
of the subscribers to this institution wan held at
the London Tavern to-day, under the presidency of
Mr. James Abbies, and there was a large attendance.
The report showed an increase in the inoome of
the charity, which now supports 455 inmates at
Earlswood ; and it is intended to admit 35 more at this
election. The total income of the year was 73,3021.
18s. 5d., and the expenditure amounted to 21,1581.
lls. 23., leaving a balance of 2,1 W. Gs. 9d. The capital
of the institution'now amounts to 97,0007.
Both the Town Council and the Chamber of
Commerce at Liverpool yesterday agreed to addresses to
her Majesty the Queen in reference to the attempt on the
life of Moos Alfred.

011111TAL PALACE. ONE SHILLING DAT.—
WEMITADAT, APRIL 29. Admissions by season tickets,
2,060 ; ditto on payment, 2,039; total visitor,. 4,099.
THE ELDER DIERAELL —Too much has been
written, and written in an offensive style, of Mr. Dis-
raeti's Mumble birth. The fact is that he was born
in a recognised position of respectability and compe-
tence. He was as well-born as Addison, ea Canning, as
Burke, as Philip Francis, a Sheridan, or as Horner. His
father was more oelebrated, or at any rate, better keews,
than the fathers of some of these statesmen. A 'Wiens
man, who wrote books of amusing gowdp shoot authors,
and who enjoyed the pleasures of literary society and
literary recreation, without the necessity of literary
drudgery, is not to be quoted as a sample of Grub
street poverty or Grub-street lowliness. Of the
fathers of famous men whom we have cited, two may be
repelled as of an equal mark and name with the elder
Disraeli—the father of Addison, and the father of Sir
Philip Francis. Each of these was an author, who obtained
a fair repute in his day, and each of them has bees eclipsed
by • more celebrated son. Each was a scholar like the
elder Disraeli, each moved in good society, and each is for-
gotten now, or will be forgotten soon. It is superfluous
to push the comparison farther. We should not have
touched on it at all, had it not been for the incessant
yelping in which some members of the press have indulged
cc Yr. Disraeli's elevation. It is sta.:tent to remember
that he was born in a sphere which enjoyed the advan-
tages of liberal and refined education as fully as the first
gentleman is the land.—Edimburgh Reriew, new number.
An elderly lady who has just died at Milverton,
Taunton, has left 201. to her servants to maintain sad
OM for a favourite oat.