The Sun.
London, England, 1863-04-22 00:00:00

FINE ARTS.

EXHIBITION OF THE INSTII UTE OF
PAINTERS IN WATER-COLOURS.

This society has changed its name from being the
" New Society of Painters in Water -Colours," and
has chosen the occasion of opening their newly-
built gallery to make that alteration. Without
being remarkable,there is much that is attractive to be
met with in this exhibition. Among the sea-pictures
the most striking is that of Mr. G. B. Campion.
called " Return of the Lifeboat from a Stranded
bitip----Crew and all Hands Saved." This is a
sketch of that thrilling excitement which only occa-
sions of life or death can call forth. The men in the
lifeboat seem excited and overjoyed, while the spec-
tators who crowd the shore are g, zing eagerly on.
This is a fine Subject for an artist, and its skilful
delineation has produced the happiest results.
" Scott's Burial-?lace, Dryburgh Abbey," " Inte-
rior of Dryburgh Abbey," and Sir Walter Scott's
Tomb, Dryburgh Abbey," by John Chase, are all
admirably executed. The latter is especially lovely,
and forms one of those fascinating sketches that
one is loath to leave, and that linger afterwards in
the mind. The peculiar colour of the foliage around
is strikingly represented, and it is altogether a per-
fect gem in its style. It seems grateful to the
memory to think that our great novelist sleeps in
such a spot, and is taking his last long rest amid
the fair scenes of that country he so loved to
depict. There is one barred picture by Mr. H.
Tidty that has been painted for the Btble Illus-
tration Society, representing " Our Saviour with
the Young Children brought unto Him." This
extremely difficult but deeply interesting sketch
has been pleasingly illustrated, and the general
repose and sanctity of the group seem to illus-
trate those blessed words, " Of such are the king-
dom of Heaven." Mr. E. H. Corbould's " Memo-
rial Design" is a beautiful conception, and must
have been especially pleasing to the Queen, for
whom it was painted. The colouring is splen-
didly done, and the features of the lamented
Prince Consort are represented in a most impres-
sive manner. Beneath are written, in German,
the words of St. Paul, " I have fought a good
fight; there is a crown laid up for me which
the Lord, the righteous Judge, &c." Mr. Augustus
Bouvier has painted a very la ge picture, entitied
"The Princess Elizabeth entering London, a Prisoner

of State." This is a great success, and has alrEad3
been sold. The face of the Princess is beautifully
done, and displays the anxiety she is evldenti3
suffering from, while at the same time her youth-
fulness and grace render her attr ctive in no ordi•
nary degree. The whole entourage of the sketch is
good, and the splendour that characterised the pro

cessions of that day is well manifested in the bril

Taut colouring. " Pompeia," by the same artist,
s a very gorgeous representation of a beautiful
young girl, who is rather of an Eastern style
in her dress and countenance. "Through
the Greenwood," also by Mr. A. Bouvier,
is a charming little picture of rural life.
" Morning—S reet in Vitre, Brittany," by W. W.
Deane, is a quaint picture of a French town. " Tue
Reeks of M.G.illicuddy, Killarney," by J. C. Reed,
is a good illustration of the beauty for which that
neighbourhood is famous. "Where the Deer Fre-
quent," by E. G. Warren, is a very pleasing sketch.
" A Quiet Nook" is a very lovely drawing, that is
characterised by the grace that particularly dis-
tinguishes this artist. "The Trusty Guide," by
T. S. Robins, is a very well drawn sketch of an old
blind man led by a little girl ; the contrast between
childhood and age is true to nature. " The Wan-
derer Returned," by Harrison Weir, represents a
favourite cat returning home. The animal is
sketched with the usual ability of this artist, and
forms a novel feature among pictorial representa-
tions. " When sorrow sleepeth it waketh not,"
by John Absolon, is an effective sketch of a young
girl lying among the bushes and evidently spent
with grief. To this subject the artist might have
appropriately affixed the lines—
"Ye know not what ye do
Who call the slumberer back
From the realms unseen by you
To life's dim weary track 1"
" The Doge," by L. Haghe, is a very successful at-
tempt, and worthy of the fame of its artist. It re-
presents the Doge, Andrea Dandolo, leaving the
Church of St. Mark after taking the cross. It is a
splendid picture, and conveys a good idea of the
beauty of its subject and the grand old man, who,
like ancient Priam, was called forth to arms. Mr.
Heghe's other work on " Benevenuto Cellini and
Francis the First," is an interesting work, and one
peculiarly calculated to excite the imagination of an
artist who might be tempted to recall in somemeasure
the memorable words "edio anco son pittore." Mr.
Carl Werner has some good representations of the
Holy Land. "Bethany, near Jerusalem," is an
effective one; the ruined church contains the tomb
of Lazarus. This is the spot where M .rttia went
to meet the Saviour. "An Evening Glow," by
Aaron Penley, is effective. It pictures that brilliant
light that sometimes suffuses the evening eky, " when
we cau almost think we gaze through golden vistas
into heaven." " Interior of Roslyn Chapel from
the High Altar," by John Chase, is a beautiful sub
ject well cat ried out. It has been celebrated by
Sir Walter Scott in the "Lay of the Last Minstrel,"
"There are twenty of Rosalyn's barons bold lie
buried beneath that proud chapel," and these stately
warriors could not have found " couch more magni-
ficent" than this splendid fane presents. " Lilac,''
by M. Margetts, is a very pretty little sketch ; the
colouring is quite natural, and that is the highest
praise that can be given to it, since nothing in art
can equal, much less surpass those tints with which
nature delights us when she dons her spring
attire. Milton has immortalised the beauties
of the "yellow cowslip" and the pale prim-
rose," but the lilac may vie with these in
loveliness. " Magpie and Jewels," by T. Sutcliffe,
is an amusing sketch that furnishes a variety to the
other subjects, and is altogether an interesting pro-
duction. It represents the little animal in the full
glory of his mischievous propensities, and sur-
rounded by the spoils of his trophies. "On the
Coast at Port Madox, North Wales," by J. H.
Mole, is one of those suggestive scenes that abound
in Wales. " Grapes," by Mrs. Harrison, displays
that beautiful fruit to full advantage. "Apple
Blossom and Chaffinch's Nest," by M. Margetts, is
a fair representation of its lovely subject. "Burglen
Switzerland, birthplace of William Tell," represents
a spot worthy of such a memory being attached
to it. It is done by S. Prout, and reflects great
credit on his skill. " Rive San Protasio Venice,"
by H. d'Egville, presents us with those delineations
of that far Lined city that are always so attractive.
" St. Paul's from Fleet-street," by H. G. Hine, is
noticeable if only from bringing before u--
one of our own important edifices. Mr. Absolon's
picture of "Kiss in the Ring, Hampstead-
heath," forms a good comic sketch, and is likely to
attract admiration among the lovers of that style.
"Pleasant Reflections," by E. N. Wehnert, is not
at all capable of carrying out the promise of its title.
Two very uninteresting individuals are represented
as gazing at themselves in a mirror before them,
apparently well satisfied with their contemplatioe,
but what there is pleasing in this the beholder will
be puzzled to ascertain. Oa the whole there is a
fair average amount of merit in this exhibition, and
taken altogether, not withstanding some drawbacks,
there is ample reason to be satisfied with its col-
lection. There is ample variety so that all tastes
may be gratified, and the geueral arrangements as
'0 henging, &c , seem satistactory. The numerous
visitors paid great attention to the subjects before
them, and appeared for the most part to be pleased
and interested with what was offered for their
inspeciioe.