The National Register.
London, England, 1812-03-29 00:00:00

TILE NATIONAL RE.MSTER.

M ARCM 29.

PrIVE ARTS.
BRITISH INSTITUTION.

No. 191. Boys trying their Boats—and 199. I.andserre--a study from
Xuture. By J. J. CEIALoN.—We have had already, in some other cir-
cumstances, the pleasing task of praising this ingenious Artist for the
truth of his colouring, and the delicacy of his touches : in the first of
these pictures we have admired the leafing of his trees, and the stillness
of the water, as w 4.11 as the elegance of his shies. The other small per-
formance is pleasing to the eye, and offers an effect of light, which,
though common in nature, is not easily exemplified on the canvas.
No. 71. May-day. By W. COLLIN s.—This performance evinces a
great deal of humour and fun in the mind of the Artist who conceived
and executed it. Some parts are very highly finished; and the whole has
a very pleasing effect.

EPITAPH OF LANTARA,
THE FRENCH LANDSCAPE PAINTER.

Whenever we hate an opportunity of inspecting and admiring the
efforts of the pencil, in its attempts to convey on the canvas the glories
of the setting-sun, the gold fringed clouds that float about his increased
orb in the west, and the admirable glow diffused over the, landscape at
that moment, we generally remember a French Artist of the last century,
who made his daily study of watching the moment when those fleeting
beauties are best displayed. In our last visit to France, we met with se-
veral of his performances in private collections, for the Painter was more
clever than well-known. We were told, that he was so intent upon
“tching the accidents of light and shade at sun-set, that he used to pass
part of his afternoons upon the Port-royal, which is situated nearly in
the same direction, according to the compass, with Blackfriar's-bridge,
and whence the view opens in a most interesting manner upon the hills
about Seve and St. Cloud. His sketches, made upon the spot, partake of
the fiery splendour he was a witness to; and the pictures made after those
hasty sketches, are as admirable as they are scarce. However, careless
and improvident as most melt of genius are,. he lived and died poor, and
left nothing after him except his name. A French wag published the
following epitaph after his death :

Cy gift le piaintre Lantara;
La Julseule fut son livre,
L'
,esperance k fit vivre,
Et la. .cha rite l'enterra.

This epitaph is so sinaint, so intriOus in its style, and the pun between
the words Lantara and I'enterra so idiomatical, that it seems almost im-
possible to transfer it into English. However, an attempt has been
made, which may not prove unacceptable to the Readet.
Here buried LAN-I-ARA the great is;
Faith Was the only book he read ;
To Nola• he trusted for his bread ;
And Charity, when he was dead,
A grave procur'd him gratis.
The fact is, that his charitable friends made a contribution to have
hint decently buried.

TJ GENTLEMEN AND ARTIFICERS CONCERNED IN
BUILDING.
Yesterday was Published, the Nineteenth Edition, price 4s, carefully
'corrected to March, 1812.
CROSBY'S BUILDER'S NEW PRICE BOOK for 1812, contain-
ing every requisite Information to Gentlemen engaged in Building, as
well as the various Artificers employed, with the prices allowed for
labour by the first Surveyors. Also the presult. value of every thing
necessary for Erecting and Completely Finishing Buildings of all de..-
criptions method of constructing Ovens ; prope,ties of limes, and
composition of cements ; tables for measuring timber and various
works; copious abstracts of the Building and Paving Acts; estimate for
building a third-rate house, and many other useful calculations, by
JOItN PHILLIPS Surveyor, Author of the Getmral History of Inland
Navigation, assisted by eminent Surveyors and Builders.
London: Printed for B. and R. Crosby and Co. Stationers'-court,
and sold by all Bookseller s.
Where also may be had, Coates's Practical Land
:Surveyor in Seven
shewing the Method of drawing, reducing, or augmenting Plans,
with many W-ond Cuts, price 9s. 6d. or on fine Paper, ss. 61 boards.
Phillips s General History of Inland Navigation, containing a full and
clear Account of the Canals finished, as well as those now in hand,
105.6 d. boards. •