The Sun.
London, England, 1854-09-20 00:00:00

COMMISSION OF FINE ARTS.

The following is the tenth report of the Commis-
sioners on the Fine Arts, recently presented to
Parliament by command of her Majesty :
To THE QUEEN'S MOST EXCELLENT MAJESTY.
We, the commissioners appointed by your Majesty
for the purpose of inquiring whether advantage might
not be taken of the rebuilding of your Majesty's palace
at Westminster, wherein your Majesty's Parliament is
wont to assemble, for the purpose of promoting and en-
couraging the fine arts in your Majesty's United King-
dom, and in what manner an object of so much impor-
tance might be most effectually promoted, beg leave to
report to your Majesty the progress of the works re-
commended by us, in accordance with the duties pre-
scribed to us.
The series of eight fresco paintings in the upper
waiting hall is now completed. In first proposing that
the apartment should be decorated with paintings
executed in that method, we observed—viz., in our re-
port of the 7th of August, 1845, that we were "desirous
to afford opportunities for the further practice of fresco-
painting, and for the cultivation of the style of design
which is fitted for it, * * * provided the architectural
arrangements and the light should, on the completion of
the apartment, be found to be adapted for the purpose.
The room was found ultimately to be but scantily
lighted, but we conceived that, as the paintings would
admit of being closely inspected, that objection was in
itself less important ; while on the other hand, it might
not be without its use experimentally, by suggesting a
treatment adapted to such a condition.
We have now to add that, apart from the important
objects more or less attained in the designs referred to,
of appropriate conception and expression in reference to
these subjects, these experimental works will be of use in
showing what are the external qualities generally essen-
tial in fresco-painting, and especially so under given
local circumstances. It will be for artists to consider,
in witnessing the effect of these works, to what extent
the great requisite of distinctness, as resulting, in its
perfection, from intelligible forms, perspicuous arrange-
ment, and the judicious distribution of light and dark
masses, has or has not been kept in view, subject to the
local conditions of light, the size of the apartment, and
the dimensions of the paintings; and subject to the ge-
neral technical conditions of fresco-painting—a method
requiring-, from its comparatively limited resources, an
especial attention to simplicity and significance in repre-
sentation.
In the House of Lords eleven of the eighteen metal
statues of barons and prelates are now placed in the
niches intended to receive them. The seven remaining
statues are the only works, coming under our superin-
tendence, now to be completed for this chamber.
In St. Stephen's Hall, without as yet contemplating
the execution of the frescoes intended for that locality,
we propose that the series of 12 marble statues of emi-
nent statesmen named in our fourth report, bearing date
the 25th of April, 1845, should be gradually cornplet,d.
Accordingly, in addition to the three already ex.:,cnted
and placed in the hall, we have given commissions to
five artists to execute each a statue of one of such per-

sunages.
With regard to the prince's chamber, which we pro-
pose to decorate with statues, bas-reliefs, and other
works, as detailed in our seventh report, dated the 13th
of July, 1847, we have corninissioned John Gibson,
R.A., to execute a statue of your Majesty, with fizures
of justice and clemency, and with bas-reliefs 014 the
pedestal, to be placed in the recess on the north side of
the apartment. We have also employed Mr. William
Theed to prepare a series of bas-reliefs, to be subse-
quently cast in metal, for V.e panels on the walls.
Of the frescoes intended tor your Majesty's rob'ng
roJin, undertaken by William Dyce, R.A., and illip.tra-
tive of the legend of King Arthur, as proposed our
seventh report, four have been completed. As it ap-
pears that the artist will now be enabled to devote his
whole time to these works, they will, it is hoped, in
future proceed more zapitily. With respect to the
fuur paintings referred to, we consider them alto-
gether satisfactory, whether regarded in their general
treatment, or as examples. of the method of fresco-
painting.
We have commissioned John Rogers Herbert, R.A.,
to prepare a series of designs for frescoes, to be executed
in the Peers' robing room, according to a scheme also
indicated in our seventh report. Tile room itself is not
yet built, and it is therefore expected that the artist's
designs will be completed by the time the walls are in a
fit state to receive frescoes.
We have also given our attention to the decoration of
the principal corridors connecting the central hall with
the two Houses of Parliament. We have accordingly
commissioned E:lward Matthew Ward, A.R.A.., to un-
dertake the Commons' corridor, and Charles West Cope.
R.A., to undertake the Peers' corridor. The subjects
intended for these localities are enumerated in our
seventh report, in which it is also proposed that the pic-
tures should be painted in oil.
We further propose to commission Daniel Maclise,
R.A., to paint in fresco, in the Painted Chamber or
Conference Hall, the subject of the Marriage of Strong-
bow and Eva, the subject being one of the series se-
lectei by us for that apartment. The design for the
fresco so proposed to be executed will be adapted, ac-
cording to the requirements of fresco, from an oil pic-
ture of the same subject, executed by the artist on his
own account, and which he has treated with great
-ability.-

In our last report, dated the 11th of March, 1850, ,Re
numbly stated to your Majesty that the Lords Cormaim-
sioners of your Majesty's Treasury had consented to
propose to Parliament an annual expenditure amount-
ing to four thousand pounds to defray the cost of the
various works recommended by us. Since that period
we have, with the sanction of their lordships, continued.
to submit to Parliament an annual estimate accordingly.
The limitation of the expenditure as stated may how-
ever be regarded as a cause of delay in the prosecution
of some of the works.
We humbly subjoin as an appendix to this report some
details connected with the subject of our inquiry.
ALBERT. CARLISLE.
NEWCASTLE. WILLOUGHBT D'ERESBY.
SUTHERLAND. C. J. LEFEVRE.
LANSDOWNE. J. R. G. GRAHAIf.
ABERDEEN. ROBERT HARRY
J. RUSSELL. B. HAWES.
PALMERSTON. S. ROGERS.
CANNING.
Palace of Westminster, July 8, 1584.

APPENDIX.
No. 1.

VARIOUS DETAILS RESPECTING WORKS OF

ART REFERRED TO IN THE REPORT.
UPPER WAITING-HALL.

Lighted from the north and south sides.

Dimensions from wall to wall, 32 feet 4 inches square.
Dimensions of the compartments for fresco-painting,
height, 3 feet 11,, inch ; width, 5 feet 94 inches. Height
from the flour to the lower edge of each fresco, 4 feet.

SUBJECTS ILLUSTRATIVE OF EIGHT BRITISH POETS.

Chaucer.

Griselda's first Trial of Patience.—The Marquis causes
her child to be taken from her.
" Canterbury Tales."—The Clerk's Tale. Part 111.
Painted by C. W. Cope, R.A.
Spenser.

The Red Cross Knight overcoming the Dragon,
" Faerie Queene." Book 1., Canto 11.
Painted by G. F. Watts.
Shakspere.
King Lear disinheriting Cordelia.
"King Lear." Act I. Scene 1.
Painted by J. R. Herbert, R.A.
Milton.

Satan touched by Ithuriel's Spear, while whispering
evil dreams to Eve.
" Paradise Lost." Book IV.
Painted by J. C. Horsley.
Dryden.

St. Cecilia.
" Song for St. Cecilia's Day," 1687.
Painted by John Tenniel.
Pope.
Personification of Thames and of the English Rirors.
" Windsor Forest," line 330.
Painted by Edward Armitage.
Scott.

The Death of Marmion.
" Marmion." Canto IV. Stanza 29.
Painted by Edward Armitage.
Byron.

The Death of Lara.

" Lara." Canto 11.

_....... .....___ __.
Painted by C. W. Cope, R.A.
See the
Appendix to the Seventh Report, p. 11. The
names of two poets, Scott and Byron, were apbsequently
added to the list there proposed.
OUSE OF LORDS.
Lighted from
the east and west aides.
Dimensions fromwall
to wall, north and south, 84
feet 4 inches ; east and west,ic 44 feet 73 inches.
Heiht of statues in
n
in hesto 6 feet. s 'varying from 5 feet 10
H h
eigt from the floor to the base of each statue, 24
feet 10 inches.
Dimensions of the fresco-paintinrN
t Occupying corn.
partmenta terminating in a Gothic arch
and south walls, height, 16 feet .q inches ,
.owidn th, he nort 9
feet
43 inches.
Height from the floor to the lower edge of ,
paint-
ing, 25 feet 5 inches. each
For a list of the metal statues and for the iiati,„
the artists, see the return to the House of Co,:onosi
printed February 7, 1354, No. 23, P. 6. For the indi'.
cation of the places to be occupied by the statues in the
House of Lords, see the appendix to the eighth report,
p. 0. For the subjects of the fresco paintings, and for
the names of the artists, see the return.