The National Register.
London, England, 1812-04-19 00:00:00

230

FINE ARTS.

BRITISH INSTITUTION.

This most admirable establishment, this advantageous nursery for the
must of Painting, has re-opened its bosom to the curiosity of connois-
seurs, and the encouragement of artists, whose efforts towards per-
ftttion are not only rewarded by the admiration of the visitors, but
also encouraged by the choice of the purchasers. We have gone nearly
through the whole of the gallery, the critic's pencil in one hand and the
scales of impartiality in the other ; a few more interesting pictures claim
our attention, and will receive at our hands the same justice which we

have dealt to others.
No. 45. 77te Steward. By G. WATsote.—lf the art of Painting con-
sists merely in an exact representation of natural objects, independently
of invention and composition, a single portrait or a piece of still life may
afford as much pleasure to the eye as any grand composition of Michael
Angelo, or of the Caracci. But we do not feel satisfied, in general; when.
we experience no inward emotion of surprise, nor propensity to admire
at the presence of the pencil-wrought canvas. There is a something,
a joie scetis iptoi, which ought to speak to the mental faculties of the
tseheleer and come within contact with his soul. We find this com-
pletely performed In the simple, but well-executed subject under our
iespectien. Au old gentleman, with a bald head sits at a table in the
act of Anishine„ a letter, apparently, by hisi attention and steadiness, of
same importance. I-le soon will be ready to seal it, and has called his
daughter, a very pleasing young woman, to bring him a light. Here
she stands, her band be!ore the candle, with patience and unaffected
stbreis-ien, waiting for the pleasure of the venerable Steward. Nothing
ran be less complicated and more natural than this subject ; and we
hardly know any thing, among the productions of modern artists,better
executed—it is life itself. No frippery, no useless accessaries are intro-
duced—the fact speaks for itself, and when you look at the picture for a
few minutes, it seems as if your eye, penetrating through the wall, was
witectssing a domestic transaction in an adjoining room. All this magic
is producLel by the felicitous management of three lights which are play-
ing harmoniously with each other, without clashing or interruption.
'The natural light from a supposed window, its reilexion from the oppo-
site wall, and the artificial light of the candle. Two of these are con-
spicuous upon the smooth forehead of the old man, where the shadow is
masterly brought forward in the center between the eye-brows with an
harmonious temperament. The light of the candle, whose effect is kept
down most properly, by the natural light, reflects upon the well painted
chin and neck of the girl, and appears through the delicate texture of her
band. The colouring, which is sober and appropriate to every part de-
lineated in the performance, adds to the illusion, and the whole, when
attentively inspected, deserves the unfeigned approbation of the specta-
tor. If we may (and why should we not) be allowed to repeat what we
have frequently heard in the room, this picture, fur natural expression
and truth, is one of the best in the Gallery. If, in a larger composition,
the artist has ever the good luck of giving to his constituent groups and
to every one of the figures, as much life as we admire in these, he will
hear away a palm which, since the renovation of the art, has seldom
been obtained.
No. 189. Bark of Cross/rent Castle, fvfonntouthshire, It let erat!e an:l
fguree. Ey J. IseeTsos.—Used to be entertained by the scenes of na-
ture so Litlifully exemplified by the pencil of this veteran of the graphic
I'io-na1...115, the eye rejoices at the sig alt of this perf..-.-mmce. The artist
who pained it has a peculiar style which stamps his productions so dis-
tin tively from al! other. that Ibbetsori's tolch is easily acknowledned
wherever it is. Long ha 3 he sh.rel the honours of the wr.-ath in landscaie
painting, a!ld in deli:le:I:log the .1;!-H3h cattle and scenery, with Morlawl
and Loutherhoorg ; and retrains now the last of thitt firstly-admiri d
chromltic Tritinivinee. We sincerely hope that his hand avid comb-vie
•long to hold the pallet. and that his latter productions will preserve tor
him the appellation of " Eng;ish Berchem," which his able talents have
taerted him from the dap of his youth. The scene painted here is in-
tyres ins, and exhibits a pleasing bustle of people and animals, mostly
painted in the half shade in imitation of the best manner of Dujardin and

patter.
N'. 191. Christ derided by the soldiers of Pilate. J. R. LANE.--Thu
pirt,!l.,• has justly been admired in the great room of Somerset•house
,;ri!lg, and does credit to the artist, who conceived, dirposcd, and
1:-(-1 it. It in suitable for the altar piece of some chapel, and the
spy, al :,,nce of the " Man of Sorrow," so emphatically represented, can-