The National Register.
London, England, 1809-05-07 00:00:00

THE NATIONAL REGISTER.

.MAY 7;

netry. By the former, nothing more than an extravagant
u meaning figure can be exhibited ; and all the tenderness,
engeance, and patriotism of the character must be extin-
gnished for want of expression, in which they can dilate
themselves. Much even of the drawing of Mr. West's
!lard is very reprehensible: the drapery is badly managed,
Aid the lower part of the body has all the prommency of a
regn an t femLile.
NO. 6S. illiltod's llessieh, from the Sixth Book of Para.
disc Lost. By B. WEir, it. A. The largest work of the
President. does not claim the greatest portion of our atten-
tion. Yet, though we find much to commend in the paint-
ing, now helm-e us, we cannot refrain from declaring,
that as a whole, it serves for another proof that there are
daring images in poetry, w h ch cannot be allowed to be at-
tempted by the pt!ticit. The Godhead, in his wrath, grasp-
ing- ten thousand thunders," dwindles away, to a non-en-
tity : the more we strive to see him, the less we beheld of
him : Wien once have gained a view of him as an angry,
f-owniilcr man, with a bundle of matches, we have
..„ :_!ly lost all idea of the God. t'at pernatural impressions,
-,then they lose their obscurity, lose also all their terror ;
some assimilation with familiar objects must necessarily
take place, and in that nssimilation all our awe expires.
But Painting is the closest of all possible detail: it is, there..
lore, or all the arts, the least capable of imparting snper-
natural impressions. An Mr. West's figure of the Messiah,
much is, indeed, pourtraycd. Mingling with terrific ven-
geance, w observe the expression of the most awful sor-
row; it is not anger, but jest destruction that elevates his
arm; every limb, every feature of this figure seems im-
pressed with this sentiment ; and although the poetry of
Milton dies away in the closeness of the detail, yet, as we
lose the seldimer conception of a divinity, we become ac-
quainted with a being who interests us, and whom our
imagination has no great reluctance to elevate into the scat
of, the Messiah. The allegorical forms around are well
imagined, and create a:l that obscurity which may assist
our minds to believe that the humanfigure it beholds lit nit
a human befits.. The colouring, outline, and general etlect
of this piece are excellent.
Of the lands;:apes by DE LOUTIIERBOURG it is impossible
to speak with too much encomium. The Land Storm with
an Overturned Iraggon, (No. 7.) is in his best. stile, while
The Water-Spout in the Mountains of Switzerland, (No. 8.)
possesses at once novelty of interest and teirifie grandeur.
Of this I shall speak more particularly in iny next essay.—
Woonvonnes Henry and .Ernma has a brilliancy of colour-
ing that is seldom equalled ; the countenance of Eii►tn
expressive of all that contention of feelings with which she
is agitated. But it must be remarked that there is a hard-
ness in this stile of colouring which gives the figures the
appearance of I)eing copied from marble statues, rather
than from belt:Ts of flesh and blood. 3. M. W. Tuns:La's
e.teellent sea-pie.:e of ,S:pilhead,uith a Boars crew Recover-
ing an Anchor, shall be spoken (Ain my next essay ; as welt
as the "Distressed fierily" of U. THOMSON.-1 perceive so
many pieces that claim distinguished notice, and ,which
either by the reputation or their artists, or their own con-
spicuous merit, demand all the energies of just and impar-
tial criticism, that in deleting my observations until the
next number, I shall feel mvself cared to the most ;Men•
tive examination, and to a critique of the most interestiier;
aarticulars.

I.l'liursday, about two o'clock, her Alajesty, Princesses
7usta, Mary, an:i :ophia, arrived at St. James's Pal ice:
from Queen's : hold a Dra%s ing-room, for the
first ti::•.! since her Majes!.i's indisposition.
The I .- tiny were among the numerous presentations
to her M •
Admiral : . Calcraft, Sir Hew Dalrymple, Mrs.
Patten, t. Nlrs. Apriece, the Rev. Gio (Lin, U.
tlit•ks Beach, ltan,don, Miss Parkins, Mrs.
King, Lora Lady Charlotte I'roby, tivneral
Spencer, Sir Davis' Viscount Crinv,ton, the Earl of Or-
ford, Brigadier-Cieuerat iVrtle, Major Leith: Lord William Lien-

um

'ed. Mingling with terrific ven-
pressiou of the most awful sor-
jr.st destruction that elevates his
feature of this figure seems im-
cut ; and although the poetry of
loseness of the detail, yet, as we
ion of a divinity, we become ac-
who interests us, and whom our
reluctance to elevate into the scat
Ilegorical forms around are well
that obscurity which may assist
the human figure it beholds IA nit
During, outline, and general etlect
IE LOUTUERBOURG it is impossible
ncomium. The Land Storm with
7.) is in his best. stile, while
Mountains of Switzerland, (No. 8.)
of interest and tei rifle grandeur.
r. particularly in my next essay.—
.Ernma has a beilhancv of colour-
the countenance of Enon:L is
itention of feelings with which she
be remarked that there is a hard-
tiring which gives the figures the
ded from marble statues, rather ►
and blood. J. M. W. Tuns La's
thead,nith a Boars crew Recover-
mken Win my next essay ; as well
'g" of 11. Taomsos.-1 percei VC SO
notice, and ,which
tar their artists, or their own con-
dl the energies of just and impar-
efering my observations until the
rnisdf cared to the most aticn•
a critique of the most interesting-
o'clock, her Alajesty, Princ(sr,s
Ida, arrived at St. James's Pal ice
hold a Draw ing-room, for the
(;',
nong the numerous presentations
Cater-aft, Sir Hew Dalrymple, Mrs.
Npriece, the ltev. Gm d,..11, U.
tv don, Miss Parkins, Mrs.
lie, Lady Charlotte Proby, Ovneral
Viscount Crinv,ton, the Earl of Or.
'ale, Major Leith: Lord William Lien-