The National Register.
London, England, 1812-02-23 00:00:00

THE NATIONAL REGISTER.

En. Q.

FINE AID I'S.

BRITISH INSTITUTION.
" Dare nobly, then; but souscious of your trust.
" As ever w.u•m and bold, be ever just." FOPS. •

The rooms of the British Institution present therneelves to the eyes of
an impartial critic under two points of view widely different from each
other. 'They are, at once, a National Stadium where candidates for
praise run the noble race of emulation ; and a public repository where
the disposable productions of artists arc literally sub basta, exposed to
sale. In both, however, the benevolent intention of the Patrons and
Governors is fully manifested and satisfactorily fulfilled. They consi-
dered that genius, emulation, study, tho', as poets sing, " heavenly born
and immortal," are, in this sublunary world, cased in a frame which
cannot be supported by aerial nectar or fancied ambrosia. They have
provided for the laurels of glory, and. also for the olive of life. They
give to every one an opportunity of acquiring at once honours and pro-
fit, and of supplying, with the indispensable oil of reward the disinter-
ested lamp of the Fine Arts.—These considerations are so just, so grati-
fying, that few individuals can attend to them without conceiving in-
vainly the generous desire of participating in the merit of the institution
by becoming sub-scribers.
Upon the mind of an impartial and well-intentioned critic, who wants
to dust the sacred leaf without destroying the useful berry, these consi-
derations have a very different effect. If the performance which he.
describes and analyses is looked upon as exhibited merely to show the.
progress of the art and the skill of the artist ; animated with an impa-
tient zeal for the general good, he must arm his hand with the keen-
edeed scalpel of severity; he must remove the deceiving epidermis of
colouring, and lay open to view the very fibres of design and the con-
joined limbs a.nd members of composition : indeed he ought not to spare
the lash of correction, as long as he can chastise without discouraging.
But how different is the other case ! When he has to dissect a piece
of workmanship upon which its authyr relies for professional enioltt-
ment,—kow tender, how careful must not the critic be, lest he should
sever the still throbbing arteries of life ; lest he should wound the very
vitals of the artist whose productions he is called upon to anatomise ?
Does he perceive glaring. faults, palpable defects ? he must either for-
give the sins or starve the sinner. The scales'of impartiality tremble in
his scrupulous hands, for he knows that, although it. is often more dan-
gerous to attack and hurt the pride of man than his fortune, yet it is
always with reluctance that an honest and sympathizing heart does re-
buke, with, even merited, severity, the supposed lucrative efforts of
rising genius and assiduous industry.
Having thus exposed the difficulties which attend the task we-have
undertaken, we will continue boldly to speak the truth as far as it is not
prejudiciable to-advancement, and keep an ebsdnate silence whenever
our words might give unnecessary pain, and our pen lie convened into
i!
a dagger; but we will hold the cup of flattery to the lips of t mar.,
nor try to blind any purchaser of pictures by the fumes. of-the iecense
we burn on the altar of the chromatic muse we will rouse, if possible,
dormant carelessness into action ; hold the mirror of taste to the eyes of
self-conceited pride, and dash away the leaden pallet of sincorrigilrie
dulness.

" Stulta cst clententio."
It is for improvement that the Governors and Directors have offered
premiums; it is improvement which they lo,rlc up to when they open
their rooms to the disposal of pictures ; and, if among the select, a tew
objectionable ones show" their diminished heads ;" let us reinember
that they have been admitted there on this sole recommendation that
they evince a sensible and hopeful progress in their authors towards the
focus of perfection.
No. 9, Llannbar• Church, Nnrth Woks. Py G. Soars. The romantic
scenery of Wales has been, for a long time, an inexhaustible fund of
interesting subjects for the pallet and the pencil. The artist, who has.,
painted this small picture, and adorned the walls of the Exhibition Rooms.
with several other pleaeing and succe,:sful. efforts nf his -talent in the
art, has been very industrious this year. His p,ciiiiar ability in repre-
senting the rugged cottage, the thatched house overgrown with. green
and spontaneous weed;; the hail pelted glass of the old casement, the
picturesque Well and shelving stories which diversify the Devonian
/nines) will certainly assign a place,. for him, anion;yit our painters of
Dear-scenes mad topographical subjects. His colours; however.they nut

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be set upon his well-understood pallet, come out clear at his call,
lie, unniuddled, on the canvas—lt is the stile of Mulready. But at
No. 22. At Home, by the same Artist, and No. 28. Donumtie Ham'.
ness, we find a'veiy different style of painting, and alsosan harmonious
and pleasing one ; an evident proof of the versatility of that genth man's
talents. Here he reminds us of the style of Smirlte in those small and.
exquisite pieces which still decorate in well-executed prints the works
"of Our classical authors. Warmth of colouring and an uncommon fe-
licitY I distributing the lights, accompanied with happy touches, cha-
racterise these two small performances; but we grieve not to be allowed
to speak so highly of the Cottage Student. It Islay be a fac simile of
nature, but nature is not to be copied at all times. She has her gala-
dress, and her neglige.
No. 29. Judas selling the Blood of Christ. By G. TURNER.—The most
distant idea of such a subject impresses the starting mind of a christian
with awe mixed with horror. The eagerness of the designing Scribes,
Pharisees and Priests, who bargained for the life of aim who. was the
life.of all ; the scanting demeanour and low-cast features of the traitor,
who had left him at supper with his friends, and, led by Satan, came to
the slaughter-market to sell the lamb ofGod, these might fire the mind
of a Julio Romano, a Gtiercino, and others 44 quibu.r awns divinior," but
here what do we meet instead of all what we have a right to expect!
we should advise Mr. Turner to leave the inferior knack at making
Pastici of Rembrant to more fortunate ones, and to soar higher if he has'
wings to bear himself pp. His painting of last year was not sucressfut '
and,..as.for.his Old Woman and her Cot—God save us from botli:'
No. 30. Interior of a Cottage, by W. WITHERINGTON, and NO: 24,
The Cottage Seamstress, by the same, exhibit to the eye a great deal of
clearness and truth of colouring—but do not speak much tai the mind.
Let the artist dare boldly soma interesting theme, and we doubt not but
he will succeed in his'attempts. He knows well the principles of his
art, but his modesty, or shyness, clips the wings of his natural abilities.
His performances at No. 33, and 164 are subject to the same obser-
observations. - . ,
No. 19. Fruit Girl, a.:Scene from Nature. By G. G. Lteou si sr. There
is really in this small picture a nicety of finishing, and a sweetness of
1 chiaro-osctiro which remind us of Gerard:Dow and Mieris. It is welt
Ipainted, coloured with the hue of nature, and the light cf the lanthorn
i is distributed upon the fruit and other parts of the scene with great•pro-
priety and effect.
Mr. Has noN's .11faebeth,Mrs. AItiSLEY'S Venus Anadyomene, Miss
JAcx.som's itganicinnon, Mr. Jos it PH 'S
Procetsion to Affilitnt. Calvary,
and Mr. RaGann.'s
.Clytetencstra, with several others, in our next.

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V

HENItY WEST BETTY.

TO THE EDITOR. •

• . --
. Ste—After a retirement of four years, partly spent at College, and •
partly in rural seclusion at his estate in Sisropshirkt, .Mr. Betty, the cele.•
bi attd Yoking Roscius, (whoic.cariy tame w•s; so long the theme of it'd-
.versal admiratton, not- only in this cjtrapti the metropolis, belt throughout
the united kingdom,) again appeared on the Ilarli •:t gemn the character or, ,0. .. ...
the Earl oi Essex on Saturday. Never was eurio,iity mere stropgly excited
than on this occasion, and the averuos of the Theatre were early crowded
with anxious spectators, eager to witness- the matured effeCti of a per-
gormer,•whose infantit'e success bad been without a precedent. It was
an arduou-s trial • criticism, which had been formerly disarmed by the •
consideration of 'his tender years, was row alive to scan his errors with
all the rigour of impartial jostice., and freely.censtir in-the man those
faults which had been left unneticed in the boy. The event, however,
has afforded a full confirmation of his superior talents,: his performance'.
of Essex, though by no•rnearis faultless, was replete with all the fire and—
•
energy of true genius, and elicited reiterated bursts of applause from ode •
. •
lof the most elegant and crowded audiences that ever graced the benches: •
of our Theatre. On Tuesday cvening'he performed Selim, in Berbarossa.
I
and was receiVed with- a warmth- of approbation, that seemed to call
I forth every latent spark of genios, and to inspire him with impassioned •
animation, hardly ever equalled: the glowing warmth of filial affection
Iforean afflicted mother, and the fire,ot youthful. resentment against the
i. murderous Usurper of his. father's throne, were pourtrayed with all the
- . truth of natural feeling ; and the loud acclamations from all parts of the
'• •Theatte which•followed his dis•COvery of himself to Barharosra, and ie.
veral other striking points of the character, bore ample testimony to his
1;• matured excellence. • .
I I Bath, Feb. 10. : •

L. S.

It is determind. to proceed with the erection of the VauxToll Bridge,
but to imike it of iron instead of &MCI which may be done 'at an expetise
of about 900001.

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