The British Press; or, Morning Literary Advertiser.
London, England, 1824-02-05 00:00:00

BRITISH INSTITUTION.

I From a Correspondent.
1
Yesterday a considerable number of- the nobility and
friends to this national Institution were admitted to a
private view of the paintings by British artists, previous
to the opening of the gallery to the public for the season.
From some cause or other, at present unexflained, this
annual exhibition has been for th• last few seasons de-
creasing in interest, and the worbelsave not been of a na-
ture to induce a favourable vinkin of the progress of the
arts in England. We are, howefer, Mappy to say, that we
have never seen it more attractive than it now is, for the
gallery abounds with works of promise; and we observe in
the collection many paintings of the higher class. Among
the visitors we observed the Duke of Bedford, the Marquis
and Alarchioness of Stafford, Lady Grey, and many dis-
tinguished patrons of the arts. We subjoin a brief notice
of some of the chief works. _ _ _

No. 11. relehiegthe I xpressioll—E. D. LEAHY, if • design to
introduce the portrait of young Landscer, who is taking the sketch
of a cat. There is some ingenuity about the picture ; but ;this
plan of bringing an artist's portrait before the public is getting
stale.

No. 14. The War-horse and the Ass—T. Wooowriarr, is
pretty. And
No. 21. The Rat-catcher and his Dots, by the same artiat,la very
clever.
No. 23. liband her Train—H. HOWARD, 11. A., is light, airy,
playful, and in good keeping, and keeps up the charaixter of the
painter.
No. 37. Comns, With the Lady is the enchanted Chair—W.HIL-
TON' is really admirable, and exhibits a happy choioe of sub-
ject, rich imagination, hold design, and • depth of noloor, ex-
pression, and effect, which deserves the highest praise. The artist
has considerably improved it since it was exhibited at the Aca-
de
No.
. 341. Yeas: chiding Caplet, has the name of Sir Wtt.Liam
BEECHEY attached to it in the Catalogue. We hope this is a
mistake. . .

No. 51. View of Porie—G. ARNOLD, eery petty, in tolerably
good keeping, and well managed.
No. 61. Distort! View of Pereosey Bay--Geo. VINCENT. We
are happy to find that this artist has again appeared before the
public. The sky of this picture is beautifully painted ; the dolt&
are sharp and frittered as though it was a fresh day ; the distance
is well kept, and the perspective perfect. Perhaps the fore-
ground wants vigour' and in this respect the painting sway fall •
little short of some of his former works, but, upon the whole, the
work is admirable.

.....
No. 74. An Italian Scene—C. L. EASTLALE, is a clever paint-
ing; but this artist seems determined to keep up his style of higb
colouring—were he to subdue it a little he would improve his
works much. 231. Guatherde is die Caileagßat o,f Beale, is belt ';
and perhaps 310. 7hc Wife iy* a Bandit, is the test he has in the
Gallery. The latter induced us to waver while in the act of believ-
ing he had fallen off in expression.
No. 78. Gouwk.ceper: returning—M. T. ‘Vann, is clever and
sketchy. The horseman is well finished, and some other points tell,
well ; but we are sorry that more time was not expended upon the
painting.
No. 93. Hampstead Heath—J. C. HOVLAND. A pretty land
-
Star.
No. 103. Defrat of the Twke—D. 'Morrow. A good picture.
The grouping very eBkctive. A good melodramatic scene.
No. 110. A delightful Vieer'ef Weetesisister AWg, from ths
Broadway—C. H. STANLEY. Ellll d harmony and good keep-
ing. Nothing can surpass the perspective and general effect.
No. 112. Cupid and Psyche—R. Wrrrat.t.. We doubt the ac-
curacy of the drawing. but the design is ingenious and poetical,
and there is something aerial in the general effect. The detail and
attributes of the subject are very fine, and it is a striking picture.
No. 113. rakutirie—H. SINOLETON. An easy and pleasing
painting, but nothing about it original.
No. 121. Col. Blood's attempt to Steal the Regalia—H. P.
Batons. Titis artist is painting himself higher every season. It
is • better picture than his Guy Faux; there is a depth of colour
and effect, and an expression in the chief figures truly fine, and we
pass over minor faults to pronounce it on the whole a fine painting.
No. 143. Ls Bella Fornar ina—W. linosenow—is an impos-
ing 'Folk. We are glad to find that Ur. 11. has chosen a size
which the eye can compass. The detail is very good, but notwtth-
randing the pleasing ethrat, there is something inharmonious in the
chief figures. It is, nevertheless, an improvement on his other
works.

No. DA Scene *ter Nortrick--J. STARK—A most delightful
landscape--the best in the exhibition. No. 95. Sheep-washing, by
the same, is rather grey. If we could unite in one picture the bold
aid masterly pencilling of the trees peculiar to STARK, with the
skies of VINCENT, nothing could rival English landscape
painting.
No. 169. The Power of Murk--and 172. The Weary Traveller,
T. 8. Goon, are both meritorious little works. The light upon
the faces and the dresses of both the chief ensue:en are excellently
contrived and executed. . .

----ikIO.II47I7L767IIPair—LAND3EI:II, is full of humour and
expression ; a good deal of subject, yet an in perfect command.
The monkey has wrapped the eatin a shawl, and puss is crying out
so lustily that a whole family of cats is disturbed. The detail has I
all the attributes of mischief, and although the use of the cat's paw
to take the roasting chestnuts from the stove is the leading incident,
there are numemus little circumtnances to till up the painting, which
is perfect. We have not seen the artist to greater advantage.
No. 201. Puppy and Frog, and two Sketches, by the same artist,
are pretty, but very inferior to the first.
No. Intl. A clever landscape by la wrosr.
No. 20'2. Into-ritzy borers Lady Jane Grey and Doctor Roger
Asehana is, 13.50—H. FRADELLA.--A very beautiful specimen of
that minute and highly finished style peculiar to the French school,
without so much harshness as usually distinguishes the works of
our Gallic brethren in the arts.

No. 229. Spilling the Ale Cask-8.14'0°919, contains a good
deal of expression, though very faulty.
No. 244. The Stria Pidek—A. FRASER, exceedingly fine.
This artist has hitherto exhibited nothing so good.-248. The Girl
and eat, and 253, the Young Boat-builders, by the same, are
scarcely inferior.
No. 250. 71w Foundling—T. P. STEPHAWOFF, is very pretty.
No. 259. The Purl if brnido/I—CHARLES DEA•E; a shipping
piece, in which thereis much to admire. There is a beautiful
effect; the Custom-house on the right bank, and the craft and
shipping on the left are perfect t it la a clever performance alto-
gether, and does the artist peat credit.
No. 278. Fier id Keat—P. NASHYTH, is a clever landscape,
but the distance is too cold. _

We have necessarily omitted several good pictures ; in
short, there are many of a description to des-rve favourable
notice, and we may rrhaps rtattme the subject in a day or
two. The sculpture is below criticism: one third of the
whole is by the family of Physie—another third by C.
Moore; but we could not recognise any of the subjects by
the appearance, and it was really too late to refer to our
catalogue for the numbers. Mr. Young, who has the care
of this gallery, paid the greatest attention to the visitors,
who were numerous, and comprised many persons of rank.

PETWORTII.—On Thursday last, the Earl of Egremont
gave a snlendid ball and supper to upwards of scven
hundred .fashionables, in honour of the accession of his
Majesty, at his Lordship's magnificent scat, Pet worth
House. _ _ _

RACEs.—The plan of a new race-course
is about to be submitted for the approbation of the commit-
tee. The spot selected is l'resbury Park ; and the course,
which, if adopted, cannot bt, ready until 1826, is to be one
mile and a -half in length, and thirty yards in width.—
Gloucerter Journal.

1.134 cafes, JAN. 2R.—The Commissioners for the issue
of public money have just agreed to grant sixty thousand
pounds towards the erection of a bridge and docks here.
These works will, when completed, make this a very
handsome city and a commodious port. Thanks to our
invaluable representative, Mr. Rice, through whose exer-
tions this grant has been obtained, in spite of the opposi-
tion of a certain party. The expenditure of this sum will
be of incalculable benefit here, where employment for the
mechanic and the labourer is much wanted.

Miss Nixon, the wonderful child, twelve years old,
weighing 2.5 stone of I tlbs. and more than seven feet in cir-
cumference, died at Bath last week.