The National Register.
London, England, 1812-03-08 00:00:00

THE NATIONAL REGISTER.

MISCELLANIES.

FINE ARTS.

BRITISH INSTITUTION.

MARCH s.

No. 55. Clytemnestra and her Children,supplicating her Husband Aga-
menuton to spare the life of Iphigenia. By Miss H. A. E. JACKSON.—It
was most certainly an awful moment, a moment of the greatest anxiety
for the Chief of the Grecian expedition against Troy, when, perplexed
and distracted between his affection for his daughter and his patriotic
engagements; between the duties of a General who had called the
whole strength of Greece to revenge the injury done to his brother, and
the feelings of a tender father towards a beloved and innocent child, he
1 bad to decide upon her, and give a verdict of life or death. Calchas
called loudly for the blood of the victim ; the winds were in waiting to
waft the fleet over the Archipelago, and the decisive words of Aga.
memnon were expected with impatience by the whole army under his
command. In that painful, distressing situation has Miss Jackson at-
tempted to pourtray the King of Mycena. We have had already suffi-
cient proofs of her daring turn of mind; she holds the attributes of the
, chromatic muse with as much manliness as might be expected from any
other artist ; and her copy of 4- the Madona" of Sebastian del Piombo,
last season, was enough to make us conceive the most flattering hopes of
success in any subject she might undertake. The figure of Agamemnon is
Icorrect as to delineation,and the expression of his inward feelings working
upon his features, evinces a great knowledge of the passions and of their
influence upon the human face. His costume is classical, and appro.
priately coloured ; his helmet is handsome and drawn from the antique,
and the anotomical parts expressed with judgment and taste. Clytem-
nestra, with her suite, composed of her other daughters, approaches
him with fear and hesitation. We know that, awed by the majesty of
paternal grief, they measure the eageriAs of their supplications upon the
feeling of a father, a husband, and a King, and that a sensible conge-
niality of sorrow ought to pervade the whole groupe—but, we must ob.
serve that there is a certain want of nobleness in the figure of Clytem-
nestra, whose subsequent deeds are well known, that the character
of her face does not speak exactly what we have a right to expect; and
that her daughters are not sufficiently animated, and do not express
enough that sentiment of sorority! distress which tortures their bosoms.
No. 36. Clytemnestra exalting over the body of Agamemnon. lEsclup
lus's tragedy of Agamemnon. By S. RIGA U o.—Here the same heroine ap.
pears, but in a very different character ; she is no longer an humble
aid,
pliant for the relief of her daughter ; she has murdered her Lord,
holding the bloody axe in her hand, exults upon the body of the fallen
Chieftain. Adultery has whispered to her the means of putting to
death the hero whom ten years of warlike hardships had spared. This
subject is grand, and requires an uncommon share of enthusiasm to te
iwell treated.—We can only say that the colouring is very pleasing, the
1 group well conceived, the figures happily contrasted, but that the wife
of Agamemnon is represented too young, and wants that character of
madeuing oration which the poet has so forcibly hinted.
No. 42. Nanny ut the Well, front Nature. By Mrs. TAvecia.—This
piece is, perhaps, the best among the several paintings which this
wellfemal
e
artist has exhibited this year. The figure of the girl is pleasing and
drawn ; and the stately holly-hock, the roses, and the rest of the flowers
are painted with nicety ; but does not this, as well as all her other per-
formances, remind us too much of japan enluminures and neat tea•
board execution ? She has talents, but wants boldness.
She speaks the
truth of nature, but with too much coyness and timidity. Let her dare
and she will succeed.
No. 66. Iris and her Train. By H. HOWARD, R. A. The manner in
which this subject is treated is elegant and pleasing ; correct delineation,
taste in grouping, and delicacy of colouring unite to entitle this perform-
ance to praise. It was exhibited and admired before at Somerset-house,
and becomes here an ornament to the room. However, we must sail
that the execution would have gained considerably, and a oust sal
mind been much more delighted, if the ingenious artist had contribeeidr
to dress the seven attendants of the Messenger of the Gods in t
avowed livery. This, we suppose, was his prim, ',easier°, but it is not
sufficiently explicit; and we doubt not that, if ever Mr. oward tre
prtli
tt.
again the same subject, he will endeavour to embody with more
made truth the well-conceived allegory of his group.
No. 46. The Woman accused of Adultery. By S. DRUmm osO,A. ft • At:
—The variety of characters which may be introduced in this transa
tion ; the mild serenity of ass Saviour, the sincere repentance aud be°