The Sun.
London, England, 1863-08-15 00:00:00

THE SUN, LONDON, SA MEDAN- EVENING, AUGUST 15, 1863.

Mr. Armitage's Frescoes at Islington.

~~

The revival of fresco-painting in Europe and its introduc-
tion in England were fairly looked upon as the most hope-
ful symptoms of recovery from a long and deathlike sleep,
during the continuance of which the lesser qualities of art
had usurped the place of the greater in public estimation,
and finish, softness, and delicacy had been accepted as bet-
ter and more comprehensible things than composition,
drawing, and expression.
Fresco-painting is the test of a great painter as it is the
confusion of a weak one. When Michael Angelo declared
it to be the only manly style of painting, or, as Vasari
says, "truly the most virile, most sure, most resolute
and durable of all modes," he stated a conviction
rather than uttered a sneer. He knew that the
practice of fresco can derive no help from the inferior
beauties that lend a charm to oil-painting; and that the
painter who should seek to express his thoughts in this,
the most difficult language of his art, must rely on a perfect
knowledge of it, directed by courage, skill, and consum-
mate judgment, and thus must be endowed with a mind
nobly to conceive a subject, and a hand able unerringly to
execute it.

The practice of fresco-painting in England dates
from the destruction of the Houses of Parliament and
the erection of the New Palace at Westminster. A royal
commission was appointed to consider and advise upon the
decoration of the new building; and English artists were
invited to prepare cartoons, in the first place,and afterwards
to submit for a prize competition specimens and trials in
fresco. An impetus was thus given to the introduction of
a mode of painting already flourishing in Germany under the
encouragement of the late King of Bavaria. English
painters threw their energies thoroughly into the work, and
the various exhibitions in which the competitive cartoons and
frescoes were displayed were eagerly thronged, and the
designs thoroughly appreciated by the public—rich and
poor. Probably no exhibitions in England have ever
created so much interest, or been visited with so much
favour.

Unfortunately, however, there were but a few spaces
in one public building to which the new mode
of painting could be applied. The Government
had neither means, nor probably any strong in cli-
nation, to cause other buildings to be decorated ;
and, as the large spaces available for fresco-painting can be
found, with rare exceptions, only in public edifices or in
churches, the stimulus which had awakened so mueh
ability and so many new hopes was withdrawn, and the
only apparent results of the Westminster Hall competi-
tions have been, generally speaking, incomplete and expe-
rimental efforts on the part of these artists who were
selected to cover the spaces considered to be most eligible
for decoration.

The chief prizes of the first competition were of equal
value, and were awarded to Mr. Armitage, Mr. Watts, and
Mr. Cope. Each of these painters has executed frescoes in
the New Palace at Westminster, and in the performance
of the work entrusted to him has probably well quali-
fied himself for the practice of this difficult branch of art.
Unfortunately, however, in the ripeness of their powers
the demand for their exercise has ceased. Mr. Watts has
since painted, for love, the noble fresco in the hall at Lin-
coln's Inn; and Mr. Armitage undertook, for a nominal
price, to paint, and has now completed, the frescoes in the
Catholic Church of St. John, in Duncan-terrace, Islington.
Mr. Arnaitage's work in St. John's Church
consists of a mural painting in the apsis, repre-
senting our Lord and the Apostles, and of a large fresco in
one of the side chapels, representing Francis of Assisi sub-
mitting the rules of his new order to Pope Innocent the
Third. The young man stands in front of the kneeling re-
presentatives of his confraternity, before the Pope and his
Cardinals. Unabashed by the splendour of the court, yet
with no lack of modesty, he waits, with his hands crossed
on his breast, while the Pope reads the rules by which the
order just founded is to be governed. The eyes of all are
fixed upon his calm, earnest presence. The painter has put
aside all the picturesque elements which might encumber
or endanger the unity and simplicity of this idea ;
but, having rightly done so, his difficulties, on the
other hand, are very great. As he can get but little
aid from strong contrasts of light and shade and colour, it
becomes of the highest importance that his drawing and
composition should be thoroughly good. Mr. Armitage
has been well trained ; he is a good draughtsman ; and
perhaps there is no English painter who is setter ac•
quainted with the rules of composition. His strength is
best seen in such work as these frescoes represent.
The "St. Francis" has been completed about three
years, and is at this moment in perfectly good condition ;
but we understand that the painter has made some change
in his practice, and that he considers his lately completed
work in the apsis to be more purely and simply alfresco
painting. The custom of painting colossal figures of
Christ with his Apostles on the wall behind the high altar
is of the earliest date, *hen the Basilicas were converted
into Christian temples, the effigies of the Cmsars, which
had become almost the only objects of adoration in the
Pagan world, were removed, and in place of them mosaic
representations of the Saviour and his Apostles were dis-
played in the semi-cupola above the high altar. As might
be expected, we find a pagan stamp upon these early
works—the head of the Saviour bearing some resemblance
to the Jupiter, and the costume being generally that of the
period, consisting of the tunic and the pallium, with
sandals. The early impression has never been completely
effaced—and we may trace in the cartoons of Raphael, and
" The Last Judgment" of Michael Angelo, ten centuries
later, the influence of the earliest representations of the
sacred characters of the Christian religion upon all subse-
quent Christian art.

_
Mr. Armitage has adopted, in its greatest simplicity,
this earliest type. The figure of our Lord—colossal in
size—is represented seated in the centre of the apsis, and
directly behind the high altar. On either side are ranged
the Apostles in pairs—St. Peter and St. Andrew being
foremost on one side, St. John and St. James on the
other. The great merit of the fresco is its simplicity.
The painter has justly estimated the advantages
and the limits of his materials. He has given his
attention chiefly to the drawing and expression of
the heads. The colour is merely suggestive—rich-
ness of effect being attained by means of the gold ground
upon which the figures are relieved. The first impression
conveys a sense of coldness, which gives place, however, to
the admiration and approval which all good work inspires
lin true lovers of art. With the exception of the principal
figure, in which, we think, Mr. Armitage has preserved too
much of the character of the ideal Jupiter, the heads are
true in character to the idea we form of the several Apostles,
and rightly varied in expression. The drawing in general
is masterly, and the draperies are well composed.
involved in the successful accomplishment of such
An inexperienced observer has but little idea of the diffi-
cultiesworks as these frescoes, and would probably be surprised to
learn that a very clever painter of cabinet-pictures would
stand before a large space of wall as helpless as a child to
cover it with design. Besides the necessary training,which
must be of the highest order for him who aspires to be a
fresco-painter, there are difficulties inherent in the process
itself, and the unsuccessful battling with which has re-
sulted in the deterioration or ruin of so much good work in
Westminster Palace.
In reference to the above, we have been permitted to
make the following extract from a letter written by the
artist to a friend, relative to the frescoes in St. John's
Church.
" For the fresco of St. Francis of Assisi, I followed, as
closely as I could, the precepts of Cennino Cennini. This
old author and artist (himself a pupil of Giotto) recommends
the preparatory modelling of the flesh with a greenish tint
—terra verte, umber, &c.--and the subsequent addition of
the carnation hues applied in a very fluid state. He never-
theless says that a small quantity of lime should be mixed
with these carnation colours. With the exception of the
use of terra verte, I followed his instruction to the letter.
For the terra verte I substituted a mixture of raw umber
altogether. Accordingly, and oxide of chromium, experience having taught me that
our colourmen's terra verte is a greasy comporuid, which
has had more to do with the ruin of English frescoes than
any other cause. As my work proceeded: I got to use less
thedllaerss of the lime as a pigment; and, when I undertook
the work has eve
esAcoccoofrtdhinegalpvsisin, Ithrr
liolevshedtitontdispense"Christw ithit
alto
method offers
and Apostles"
wallthere is not., a pa'rtiele of lime or any body
as the coloursedg7
colour. Theis rather stained than painted. I think
We believe that theseworka
e,iitoetimcheanntgeoffrdomurabthileityw;etantod myt new
y
advantage w
eover
undertakenthe
b y inasmuch Mr.
lucrative employment of hisw works,
state."
upon the frescoes themselves, Armitage as experimental and not with a view to a
time. The actual time spent
&c.,
was
four
monestbitidependent of the cartoons,
gnionths for the spars .--The
the "St. Francis" and
tsreavceinn I
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AUSTRALIA.

PLYMOUTH, Friday Ev6nieg

The Vernon, 891 tons, Cvt. Edward Jones, hv-
longing to Mr. F. Grrcn, from Sydney, May 1, has
passed up Channel for London, having landed here
Mr. Patton, 14th Regiment, and wife, Mr., Mrs.,
and Master Simmonds. She brings 630 z. of gold,
a quantity of shipbuilding timber, and a cargo con-
sisting of 1,179 bales of wool, 2,663 hides, 59 bales
of leather, 321 bags of gum, 90 bags of iron bark,
43 cases of sperm oil, and 7,125 trenails. Her pas-
sengers include 50 in the cabin, and 25 in the
steerage. Among the former are Mesdames Bray-
brook, Maxwell, Austin, Howe!, and Padden ;
Lieut. and Mrs. Good, Mr. and Mrs. Ladbrook, Mr.
and Mrs. Peacock, and Mr. and Mrs. Knabeuschal,
Mr. Bath and daughter, the Rev. G. F. D. Priddle,
Mrs. R. Hankey, F. Lacey, M. A. Johnston, T.
Wallace, W. F. Emmens, W. Marshall, R. Snell,
J. Connan, J. Padden, B. Londres, F. Hermann,
A. Matthews, and J. Stewart, and Masters Austen
and Hudson.

On May 10, in lat. 53 37 S., long. 155 25 W., the
Vernon fell in with three large icebergs, and con-
stantly passed drift ice and bergs to long. 111 37
W. Large blocks of drift ice could be scarcely ob-
served at night until within a ship's length. In
traversing 2,000 miles of 'ocean, 700 icebergs were
seen. Many were some miles long and 300 ft. high,
Those first met were the largest. Cape Horn was
rounded on June 6. On Sunday, June 28, lat. 25
S., long. 30 W,, she got the south-east trades at
3 a.m. The report of a gun was heard, and when
Captain Jones came on deck he observed a vessel
on the starboard quarter. Thinking she was in dis-
tress, he tacked, The stranger rapidly rounded
the Vernon, which then hove on to the port tack,
The stranger often approached within a mile, and
at length hove to, hoisted a light at her peak, and
lowered a boat which came alongside. A man re-
presenting himself as an officer of a United States'
cruiser jumped on board and demanded the Vernon's
papers, which were refused, as the man was not in
uniform, nor bad he the appearance of a naval
officer. He wore a short sword, bowie-knife, car-
ried a revolver, and had on a pair of cavalry boots.
On refusal he said his ship would fire into the Ver-
non. He was then told that if he did not wish his
boat towed under water he had better shove off.
On leaving he repeated his threat of firing ; when
informed that the Vernon hove to only because the
gun was thought to be a token of distress, he said
if she had not they would have fired into her. The
boat's crew stated that the American ship was the
Cato, from Valparaiso, four months in commission.
Captain Jones considers that she was a privateer.
The Vernon crossed the line July 5 ; anchored at
Angra, in Terceira, Aug. 2, and left on the 4th.
The steamer Flora was at the island coaling. A
Federal cruiser was hourly expected there.

The Vernon spoke, June 19, lat. 42 37 S., long.
38 44 W., the bark Enid, 43 days from'Caldera for
Liverpool ; 28th, lat. 24 51 S., long. 29 30 W., the
French ship Ganges, from Gravelines ; July 8. lat.
17 37 N., long. 27 14 W., the ship Rajah of Sara-
wak, 94 days from Hongkong for Liverpool; 11th,
lat. 9 59 N., long. 26 15 W., the French bark Les
Bons Fils ; 12th, lat. 11 13 N., long. 26 49 W., a
bark showing third distinguishing pendant, 6,891,
70 days from Peru for Hamburg; 23d, lat. 29 33
N., long 40 42 W., the bark Shallet, 86 days from
Cochin for London ; 28th, lat. 34 41 N., long.
36 56 W., the bark Landwistern ; 29th, lat. 37 4
N., long. 33 40 W., the Dutch ship Philip von
Marnix, 132 days from Akyab for Amsterdam ;
Aug. 11, lat. 47 68 N., long. 36 42 W., the ship
Fearnought, and off the Lizard the bark Caroline
Elizabeth for Port Phillip.

The bark Cheviot, Captain J. Henderson, belong-
ing to Messrs. Smith, of Newcastle, has passed up
Channel for London. Her cargo consists of 300
jaggery, 30 tons red wood, 9 bales blue cloth,
90 trunks handkerchiefs, 53 pieces horns, 2 cases
condiments, 6 cases shells, 1 case books,
160 bales tanned skins, 1,327 bales cotton, and 421
chests indigo. She left Madras, April 19 ; rounded
the Cape of Good Hope, June 12 ; crossed the line
July 6 ; and spoke, April 27, lat. 8 N., lung. 85 E.,
the ship Empress, 9 days from Madras, and the
bark Chandernagore, 13 days from Madras, both for
London ; May 12, lat. 81 S., long. 88 E., the ship
Royal Stuart, with troops from Madras for London;
July 15, lat 141 N., long. 291 w., the bark Thus.
nelda, 162 days from Rangoon for Bremen ; 18th,
lat. 17 N., long. 33 W., the American ship Inez,
120 days from Rangoon for Falmouth ; 19th, lat.
18 N., long. 35 W., the French ship Cunandig, 59
days from Bourbon for Nantes ; 25th, lat. 32 N.,
long 36 W., the bark Vorsetyn, 80 days from Peru
for Hamburg ; 30th, lat. 34 N., long. 31 VT., the
British bark Lavinia, 56 days from Algoa Bay for
Falmouth ; and August 12;lat. 48 N., long. 8 W.,
the British ship Star of Denmark, standing west-
ward.

[Anse lower, by Messrs. Maudslay , Uous, and Freld,
may be ready in the course of a mouth to be passed
into the hands of the Government. They were
tried successfully on Monday last. The bottom of
this ship is covered with some prepared metal con-
taining copper. in several places where it ap-
proaches the iron-plates galvanic action has com-
menced. From the Prince Consort Admiral Robin-
son proceeded to No. 2 dock, where the screw steam-
ship Ocean, 35, is receiving her casing of iron.
Although launched at Devonport on the 19th of
March last, and removed forthwith to Keyham,
there is on her port side a section of only one layer
of plates, which extends from the bow to a few feet
abaft the fotemast, and on her starboard side a
similar layer with some plates on her waist. About
20 are ready in the store. Some delay has occurred
in the supply on the part of the manufacturer.
About a fortnight since the hydraulic machine at
Keyham, while at work, broke, in consequence of
the defective state of a cylinder.
The iron screw frigate Tamar, 2,812 tons, 500-
horse power, in No. 3 dock at Chatham, having
been surveyed by the master shipwright's staff,
and a favourable report made to the Admiralty, has
been taken over from the private firm by which she
was constructed. Orders having been received for
her to be fitted for the first-class steam reserve, in
readiness for the service for which she is intended
—that of a troopship, similar to the sister iron
steamer Orontes, yesterday the dockyard hands gave
1 the last coating of the anti-corrosive composition to
both sides of her hull, which had previously been
payed over with a mixture of coal tar and naphtha,
two coats of which were applied to the iron in its
erude state. Over this again was laid two coats of
the anti-corrosive composition invented by Mr.
Hayes, the Admiralty chymist, which bears the
character of being the best of the several anti-foul-
ing compositions yet brought into use. It may,
however, be at once stated that all of the many
anti-fouling mixtures which have hitherto been in-
troduced to the notice of the Board of Admiralty are
more or less failures, none of them possessing in an
invention of the kind—namely, the property of pre-
venting the growth of marine incrustations and
other accumulations on iron ships' bottoms, and of
preserving the iron itself from the destructive chy-
mical action of the water and marine animalcuice.

The old line-of-battle sailing ship Duncan was
yesterday towed into Chatham harbour from Stan-
gate-creek and moored alongside the dockyard, in
readiness to be placed in the first vacant dock, for
the purpose of being taken to pieces in consequence
of her unfitness for further service. A notice was
yesterday posted at the dockyard gates for the entry
of hired shipwrights, to be employed in breaking
her up.

He; Majesty's iron steam storeship Industry
yesterday went up to the Victoria-yard, Dept-
ford, from Woolwich, to load with victualling
stores for the Isle of Ascension. After receiving
her cargo she will be fitted with a new foremast,
now under construction at Woolwich, to replace the
one eaten throughout with dry rot, and which fell
over the deck in three pieces a few days ago on the
vessel leaving the dock at Woolwich.