The National Register.
London, England, 1817-01-27 00:00:00

COVENT-GARDEN.

The Hantourous Lieutenant was submitted to a se-
cond trial on Friday evening, we cannot add with a
much more successful issue than that which signalized
its first representation. Mrs. FAUCIT performed Celia,
and did every thing for the character which could pos-
sibly have been expected. The piece, however, is in.
capable of being redeemed from its primitive inferi-
ority.

ROYAL ACADEMY.
MR. FUSELI'S THIRD LECTURE ON PAINTING.
THURSDAY EVENING,JANUARY 23.

The subject of consideration in this discourse, was
Chiaro Scuro. The Word chiaroscuro, taken from the
Italian language, in its primary sense, implied the di-
vision of light and shadow, in its more complicated
sense, the distribution of light and shadow into masses;
its purpose was to give substance to form, place to
figure, and to create space ; it was either legitimate
or spurious; legitimate, according to its disposition,
strength, extent, and sweetness ; and spurious, when
it aspired to form the sole object or consideration of
a picture.
Of every subject, unity was the soul, unity, there-
fore, was the soul of chiaroscuro; truth was its next
principle, as the shade in chiaroscuro was an impor-
tant object, and as shade was but a mere absence of
light, consequently it Could be of no tint but what it
borrowed from reflection; the beauty, indeed the ex-
clusive excellence of shade, consists in its transparen-
cy and translucency; yet this should be produced with
considerable regard to truth, and with khc least ex-
pence of the subordinate parts, at the same time aim-
ing at. the establishment of harmony and brilliancy
throughout the picture.
The celebrated School of Athens, painted by Ra-
phael, was a superior example of the power of chiaro
scuro. From this picture it appeared, that the mere na-
tural light was not always the legitimate chiaroscuro;
nature produced only sublime dispositions by accident,
or casually, and then, most partially ; it was the bu-
siness of the artist to select these with judgment, and
to apply them with propriety and taste ; the principal
object of an artist, in the application, chiaro scum
was to form a centre, and to dispose his light in rays
diverging from it ; this ()Nut was more conducive
to the excellence of the whole, than the utmost bril-
liancy of colours, it would give a sombre and pleasing
hue. Every work of Corregio evinced that this dis-
position of light would produce brilliancy, the colours
being at the same time actually of very inferior bright-
ness. In the picture of St. Sebastian, by Corregio,
the yellow tint of the drapery was comparatively dull,
yet the light upon it had the effect of a sun, it dazzled
the eyes of the spectator.
It was not until the lapse of 900 years after the
restoration of the arts in Europe, that the important
advantages of chiaro scum were understood. Chiaro
scum might literally be said to have sprang from the
loins of Leonordo da Vinci. The professor here con-
sidered the comparative advantages derived from it in
the different works of Leonardo, and enumerated
various pictures of his ; none of his pupils at any time
were equal to their master, either in the chiaroscuro
or design, and from this man the 'Tuscan school
declined, till it dwindled into insipidity. Michael
Angelo's pictures, with the exception of a few, exhi-
bited• but little effect from chiaro scam and in some
of Raphael's cartoons, there was little more than
natural light and shadow. There were a few excep-
tions of artists in the Roman school, who particularly
succeeded in clam.° scuro and colouring : but the grand
examples of pictures which pnmemed the latter ex-
cellencies were.by Titiano ; as snug as the Entombing
of CHRIST, as long as the Pilgrims paying their adora-
tion to the Virgin, should retain their tones, as long
as the Infant Jl.,sus should resist the ravages of time,
they would stand alone ; they will supersede every
picture iu their respective styles.

Nothing has been more injurious, more detrimental
to the advancement of a true taste for prod:.,etions of
artists of celebrity, than the dishonest deceptions of pic-
ture dealer:, and the imbecile credulity of self-imagined
connoisseurs. No artist had suffered more from an enor-
mous multiplication of copies, than ciorgione. The
picture of the conveyance of the corpse of St. Mark by
water, by this artist, now at Venice, was one of the
most sublime works ever beheld ; it represented a vio:
lent storm ; every thing conduced to the end. One saw
the fiends raging with vengeance against the bark ; the
vessel, by dint of oars and arms, appeared scarcely to
maintain itself upon the sea, which was rolling in moun-
tains ; the Heavens corresponded in universal anarchy ;
one heard the very howling of the blasts, the very roar-
ing of the sea, and the feeble cries of the mariners.
The colouring, the chiaro scum; the design, all were
so daring, so grand, so sublime, so terrific, that the very
pannel trembled.
In chiaro scum, the light often derived its original
from two sources; as in the subject of St. Luke, by
Tintoretto,' it proceeds from the fire below, and from
the Angel ministering to the Martyr from above. The
nocturral studies of Tintoretto, from models of wax,
were well known ; thus he adjusted, raised, suspended,
and connected, to produce different effects of masses of
lights and shadows. But the artist that succeeded be-
yond all others, in chiaroscuro, was Corregio.—His
-Resurrection, and the Massacre of the Innocents, con-
towed every charm that could fascinate the admirers of
chiaro scum. He expanded its powers through Heaven
and earth ; his iron hand grasped every thing. Mr.
Fuseli, after enumerating in a most able manner, the
beauties of this artist, stated, that while we were in-
tranced by his spel, we were not aware of, nor did we
consider the place, the space and the mode of his figures.
The professor then formed a contrast between his Ma-
done, and his Jupiter and lo; the character of the for-
mer picture was beautifully expressed by the introduc-
tion of the most timid of animals; and the agitation and
fear of lo in the latter, is marked by an exhausted
stag.

COBBETT AND HUNT.
HATTON GARDEN.

Mr. Hunt, accompanied by Mr. Cobbett, and two other
persons, and the boy Thomas Dogood, who had torn down a
posting bill, entitled, " Mr. Hunt hissed out of the city of
Bristol," came to this office to know on what particular
charge the boy was committed, when the following conversa-
tion passed between Mr. Hunt, Mr. Cobbett, and the Ma-
gistrates : •
Mr. Hunt.—l understand the only offence this boy has
been guilty of is tearing down a posting bill, entitled Mr.
Hunt hissed out of the city of Bristol ; the bill in itself was a
gross libel, and did not contain one word of truth, and for
tearing down this bill he was committed ; I have fregnently
torn down a posting bill, and until now I did not know I was
offending against the laws of my country ; the boy is an
orphap of industrious habits, and unblemished character, and
from the circumstances of the case I look upon my self as his
protector, and I am determined to see him justified : I de-
mand a copy of his cosiunittal.
Magistrate.--Mr. Hunt. I recollect nothing of the case; the
previous examination did not take place before either of us;
the Magistrate who heard the case is not present; but I agree
Ith von in thinking, that tearing down posting bill is not
an offence that any recognizance can be taken of it ; it must
be on sonic other Charge he was committed, and by applying
at the prison you will of course obtain a copy of his commit-
ment we never keep a copy of the commitment in the
office.

Mr. Cobbett.—The boy when apprehended was found
lowing his lawful business ; he wes employed in selling a few
tracts of the religious society, when he was seized on and
robbed of them in the public street.
Magistrate.—We know nothing of his books; they ought to
be returned to him. We suppose Limbrick has them, and
he is now attending at the Old Bailey. •
M. Hunt.—lt is now 12 o'clock : we are going further, and
will call again at 2, at whit it time we hope Umbricl
will be in the way to give them up, and likewise to answer
any charge brought against him.
At a quartet-past two o'clock Messrs. Hunt and Cobbett re-
turned.

Limbrick and Reid were then placed at the bar, and Thomas Do_
good, the boy, was brought forward to prefer his complaint.
Mr.Cohbett.—Boy, the tables are now turned, be not afraid. speak
the truth manfully, you shall be righted, you are not now a pritoner,
you are the accuser, and those who have accused you are now the
accused.

flag :mate.--Mr. Ford, be very particular in taking down every
word the emnplainant says. have it from himself, and do net omit a
ward, as the case is to be laid before the Secretary of State, that you
may be in possession of the facts.
Thomas IJogood deposed, that ho lodges at No. Gee's-enurt.
Oxfunl-street ; that about eleven o'clock in the forenoon of Friday,
the loth instant, as he was going along Long-acre, he saw a crowd
of p:rsons reading sonic posting bills; he si.sv a mar.. after reading
the bill, take and tear it down, and say, " I have 11,? n down that
bill, and let some other of ye tear down the oiler," they were two
large bills fresh stuck up, and in large lettas at the top was. " Mr.
Hunt hissed out of the city of Bristol." He remained renting the
bill until the crowd dispersed, end when he read it he tore it i.own
and walked away. lie saw It and Limlnick come up to the ph.ee
and gather up the fragments of the bill, on which he suspe.fed they
were officers, and he ran away ; but they tidlowed hint. anti took him
into custody, and Limbrick took the tracts now produced out of his
bosom, and then conveyed him to this office, where he was searched,
and lid. he lied in his pocket was also taken from hint t_ he was then
locked up until evening, and at seven o'clock he va.: brought agein
bet Ore the magistrate and connnitted: previous to being sent to
son the sixpence was returned to him.
I.imbrick.—Your Worships, the reason of this charge being brought
against me is, because I ant of a different way of thinking from other
goe,;:emen (looking at Mr. C. and Mr. II.), fur 1 am a loyal man.
and a lover of my king and country.
Magistrate.—Limbrick, do not be so warm ; what you are, we
know. Really, gentlemen. we cannot for a moment look on this in the
light of a robbery, end must dismiss the complaint.
Both Mr. I lion and Mr. Cobbett thanked the magistrates for their
polite atteatiun to them; they laid no Maine to the officers; but
they thought the magistrate who conauittA Use buy was wow
VI hiai they wenkld we tutu.