The Express.
London, England, 1850-04-22 00:00:00

THE NEW SOCIETY OF PAINTERS IN WATER-

FINIS ARTS.

COLOURS.
This exhibition, the sixteenth annual one, was
opened on Saturday to privets view, and is am remark-
able foe the deviation from the old traditions of water-
colour science, as for the vigour and power with which
the members have prosecuted their studies in the
newly-ohosea department of their art. In the are-
rage number of the works exhibited, the historical
and figure pieces predominate over the landoespes,
and the force and brilliancy of oil is aimed at.
Hitherto confined to fleeting atmospheric effects, the
humbler vehicle of water is now called on to depict
the darker Beene* of history. dramatis motion and
passion, and thus snap' the line which should define
the limits or the two axle.

A glance at the walls of this exhibition suf-
ficiently shows progression. Foremost amongst
these progressive 'champions stands Mr. L.
Highs. ahieedy a. veteran in success; his pre-
sent picture will add to talc laurels. It represents
"a !wheel, or public reservoir, for the gratuitous
'apply '
of water. The ',heel is generally attached to
the Mosque and on the top of it is an open hullo!) or
free school for children." A gathering of pole
Bedouins—men, women, and children—are elating
their thirst at a Moorish fountain, while an Arab
guard leans en his musket. The different groups, in
their expectant attitudes of relief, and the way in
which they centre round the venerable bearded indivi-
dual who drains the cup, is managed with equal
regard to truth sad picturesque composition of luxe.
The Eastern raiment, as well as the milky modelling
and drasting of the figures, recall strongly the works
of Horace Vernet; the gestures however, and the
expression of the heads, contain more feeling than
those of the French painter. The draughtsmanship
is as careful and scour .te throughout as unobtrusive.
Two other pictures by the same artist make one
regret the time and talent wasted on unworthy
themes. All the handling in the world and accuracy of
costume is not sufficient to vivify " Cavalier,"
whether brawling in the " Ouard-room " or in the
durance of a prison. Bat the straits to which a painter
may sometimes be put, when in search of interest,
is well illustrated by M. F. H. Corbould; seeking the
barbasio chronicles and costumes of nine centuries
since. No. 271, "Elgiva in the hands of the creatures
of Odo, Archbishop of Canterbury," is a sombre con-
ception, being executed in that hybrid manner which
partakes alikl of oil and water-colour, and in the
union of which some have conceived to be the great
secret: be this as it may, Mr. Corbould has, by the
dexterous adoption of this principle, produced a work
of which the technical power and depth of tone are
admirably suited to the tempo reqa.rements of the
scene. The crunchier figure of the Queen, as she
implores protection from the brand of infamy, and
nestles in the sturdy frame of the Archbishop's satel-
lite, wavering between duty and conscience, evinces
the dramatic power and pathos of the artist, to which
the strong opposition of light and shade, and the fit-
ful glare of the fire, wherein another ruffian is heat-
ing the rod of iron, greatly contributes, and the
audacity of which is forgotten in its success. Other
brilliant bits there are by the same artist, which
show admirable command over the brash, whether
in delineating silks or complexions, but which also
betray a mind that would fain be employed on more
ambitions subjects, and a broader canvass.

---
Quite the reverse is the impression left by gazing
on the charming productions of Miss Setchell, so well
known by her picture of the "Momentous Ques-
tion," of which we are given a pleasanter version
in her " Jesse and Colin, from Crabbe's tales' this
being no longer the woeful, but the pretty embarrass-
ment of two lovers in need of parental consent. The
old and the young people are composed and painted
with all the delightful freshness that unfortunately
does not belong to the subject. While touching on
feminine &henry of handling, the "Gardeners
shed," by Mrs. Harrison, claims notice for the
harmony and truth of fruit and flower, and its pic-
torial arrangement, a happy departure from the
conventional style of hot-house delineation.
Mr. Absolon, probably from the fact of his being
engaged elsewhere in works which we have recently
noticed, is in lens force than usual, though to some
graceful designs are oppended his usual style and
name.

Of Eastern life, whether scenes of the city or the
camp, there is such an abundant stock, as almost to
amount to an artistical ra:sirs. M. Vacher has over-
run the Algerine provinces, abandoning thereby his
favourite Venetian architecture for the more bizarre
Moorish from which it sprang. His " bazaar at
Algiers" has s!1 the semblance of a scene in the "Ara-
bian Nights," the porticoes in pleasing perspective, the
warm tones of the white buildings and their listless
inhabitants have that charm which belongs to the
poetry of indolence. Not less genuine are the golden
glimpses of desert life.
M. \V. Wyld has " The Street, Bab-a-Zona, at
Algiers; " it is a feeb'e imitation of Decamps' man-
ner, especially the children, one of whom, a young
Jewess, is presenting a reclining merchant with a cup
of coffee ; it would require a much stronger stimulant
ever to make him budge with the limbs which the
artist has endowed him with. More natural and
poetical in conception is M. H. Warren's " Wise Men
from the East," ander the guidance of the star. They
are on camels, an animal the peculiar property of the
artist. In his Christ with his Disciples in the
Cum-field," the spictator is embarrassed in trying to
discern which is the Pharisee and which the dis-
ciple : this is a fault scarcely redeemed by manipu-
lative dexterity. _ _

A fine specimen of Hibernian humour will be foiled
in the cavalry portrait piece representing the " Irish
Commander of the Forces and his Staff," by Michael
Angelo Hayes. Grateful to the eye is the picture
representing " Caxton reading the first Proof-
sheet from his Printing Press in Westminster
Abbey, March, 1474," by E. H. Wenhert. In
snob a scene the great secret and difficulty
is to obtain at once diversity of grouping
and concentration if interest. This the artist
has well succeeded in, the by-play being perhaps
the mod successful portion. Whilst the illus-
trious printer is reading to his eager assistants, Wyn-
kyn de Worde, Richard Pyceon, William Machlinia,
and Letton, his first printed book, " The Game and
Play of Chess," a youth checks the progress of a
maiden laden with food of not so intellectual a kind.
The distribution of the chiaro-feuro adds to the cen-
tral unity of the oomposition.
But if a rapid survey of these walls suffices to show
the preponderating influence of the historical depart-
ment of the art, it also shows that they are faithful
adherents to the old traditions of water-colour perfec-
tion. Chief of these is Mr. W. Bennett, whose fertile
pencil is tasked to the utmost in keeping pace with
his perception of pastoral beauty ; his umbrageous,
and mossy " Forest glades" and " Woodskirta" invite
the eye to rest, or the ear to catch the silent gurgle,
of his brooks. " /larlech Castle" and "Bolton
Abbey" have been repeated, ad nauseam, but his are
not the stereotype views. No. 105. " A View in
Shrubland Park, near Ipswich," recalls the massive
foliage and; bluey still distances; of Gainsborough,
whose pastoral artistic education was made in these
very woods. M. C. Davidson also sustains the cha-
ncier of the old English landscapist, and com-
bines the colouring of Cox with more elaboration and
finish: and let us close with the hope that, in
turning over the dusty chronicles of the past, they
may not quite forget the shady lanes and quiet nooks
of Old England.

THE JUDGES AND THE CORPORATION OF ST.
PAnr.'s.—Yesterday being the first Banda y in Eager term
the judges, according to custJca, attended divine service at
the metropolitan cathedral, being accompanied by a large
number of members of the dein corporation, and several
serjesnta at law, all in full °astute'. Amongst thaw present
ware Lord Chief Justice'Camobell, Mr. Baron Parke, Mr.
Baron Alderson, Mr. Justice Patteeon, Mr. Baron Rolfe,
Mr. Justice Wmhtman, Mr. Justice Talfourd, the Lord
Mayor, the Recorder, Alderman W. Hunter. Alderman Sid-
ney, M.P., Alderman Moon, Alderman Carden, Mr. Shuiff
Nicoll, &c., Re.
SALK Or RARE COINR.—The valuable cabinet of
colas, the property of J. Bemoan, Esq., is now being ds-
persed under the hammer of the auctioneer, the owner
giving up the pursuit of numismatics eau:count of declining
health. The sale will last eight days, and is conducted by
Messrs. Leigh, Sotheby, and John Wilkinson. On the RV
two days a number of valuable Anglo-Ssion, English,
Greek, and Roman gold and silver PAM were disposed
A qoarterlieria of Edward 111., well preserved, and one of
the most rare and valuable coins in the English gold series,
only two other specimens king known, ri alised the me,.
mous sum of 1201. E lward 111. hallflorin, oh,. Edward O.
Gra. Rex. Angl. et Franc. Dm. Rb., crowned lion, with
hues, bearing the arms of England fastened to ita neck,
well muffed, and gcterculy rare, only one other sponimen
know, that in the British blaseuss, was knocked down for
1281. The united proceeds of the two days' sale asinunted
to 11,101.