The Express.
London, England, 1850-04-05 00:00:00

FINE ARTS.

ALTO RELIEVO ON THE NELSON COLUMN.
D d British sailors, in Nelson's time, we.ar pigtails
or not? This is a question suggested by a view of
Mr. Woodingt.hn's alto rtliero, just elevated to its
place on the base of Trafalgar column. tory and
tradition give us a reply in the affirmative. Why,
then, has Mr. Woodington given his sailors short
hair and whiskers, like modern tars ? Mr. Wood•
ington may reply that there are precelonts for
what he has done. George IV. is represented
hard by with bare legs and a tunic. The
Duke of Wellington may be seen lookii.g very
cold in the same costume before the Royal Exchange.
But this is no justification when we consider that the
subjtct to le dealt with was historical, a. d truth of
delineation as well as forcible execution were to be
attsined. Conceive the mist,ke of an antiquarian
making philosophical deductions centuries hence by a
close scrutiny of the Nelson column. Were we to
admit the possibility of dsciati.n from truth, of what
value would ancient monuments become where the
dress and character of a people are deduced from the
sculptural delineations of the period? One may par-
don Van Eyck and Memling for putting Scriptural
figures into mediaeval armour. Iterubrandt painted
high priests like Dutch burgomasters—but this is no
reason why Mr. Woodington should deprive Nelson's
sailors of their pigtails. It makes one lose all idea
that his work depicts the scene as it really took
place.
This much being said, we are ready to admit that
the execution of the work is broad, and not d, void of
character. Nelsen is made to appear reclining in the
arms of his men, who have b. me him into the cock-
pit to have his wound dressed. Tho occasion is that
upon which our hero lost an eye, at the Battle of the
Nile. A surgeon is leaving a sailor whom he was
tending, and comes forward to dress the wound of
the admiral, who refuses, however, to bo cared for
before his turn comer. There is dignity in the look
of Nelson, whilst the languid position of the body
depicts suffering. The figure of the surgeon, too, is
good, and the movement natural ; but there is. is the
general aspect of the composition, an unfinished
breadth which leaves doubts as to the completion of
the work. The figure of a sailor on the right hand is
awkward, one of the legs being consideral4 out of
drawing.
As compared with Mr. Carew's composition on the
opposite stole there is more salierce in Mr. Wooding-
ton's style. His figures are larger, on account of the
smaller number of people in his group. There is
some sameness in the position of Nelson, who, in both,
is carried down wounded, but this was, perhaps,
unavoidable.

ENGRAVING.
Portrait afEdsoardes.
Mr. Baugoitt, who has on tie lithographic stone
immortalised alt the notabilities of the age, cauld
scarcely let the opportunity pass of delineating the
portrait of this gallant officer, eminently uniting
noble fame and feature, lie is represented in flowing
baud and Atlghan costume, adjusted with the ease
and graceful bearing worthy of this great litho-
grapher. It is published by Messrs. Hering and
Remington, Regent-street.

-
INCENDIARY Fiu IN ESSEN.—On Wednesday the
farming peemites of Mr. Hoary Moss, of Bentley Mill, South
Weald, wire wilfully tied. Mr. F. Moss, young, r brother
of Mr. Moss, went into the purlour to fasten the shutters,
when he eaw a shed on tire situate et the estrend of the
farming reclaims (which are stout 160 yards west from the
dwelling house and mill). NJ inuudiately gave an slarm;to
the men on the premises, who ran and Memel four cow,
and drew out the waggons and carts from an adjoining shed.
Mtn wire also despatched to obtain engis.ee from lie, ntwood
and °agar. A large barn, °meaning 16 ,to IS quarters of
unthreshed wheat, which had only been put in the barn
three or lour days, and which adjoined the shed, was
speedily burnt down, u well as one clova stack. one hay
stack, and part et • tare stack. By this time the two engines
from Brentwood had arsivml, ace shortly tor oarea bl
one from Werlay-hatracks (under the command et Colonel
Leslie, with a brigade of dragon), one tram °neer, and one
from lustatistone. The preani es bring by thie time down,
the eLgints, by dint of great .xtrtion, kept the tire (rum two
other stacks, situate to the oast mad, lead sear the ilw liiug
house, which is built of stood, and which was in imminent
danger, as the wind was very bt,sh, and 614 w the tirn ins that
directs tn. The stacks were saved by having wet blankets
put over them. During the the a heavy shower of rain fell,
which assisted iu quenching the Siam There is nut
slightest doubt but the mischief was the -
but fortnuattly the property ie fully s-
at present atteche's to any particular

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