The Sun.
London, England, 1853-04-26 00:00:00

ART UNION.-(THIS DAY.)

The annual general meeting of the subscribers of this
society was held to-day, in the Lyceum Theatre, for the
purpose of receiving the report of the council, and for the
distribution of prizes.
The Right Hon. Lord MONTEAGLE, the president of
the society, occupied the chair.
There was a rather numerous attendance of sub-
scribers.

The report, which was read by Mr. Geo. Godwin,
F.R.S., the hon, secretary, stated inter alia that—
" The Council of the Art-Union of London had to repot
to the members that the subscriptions in this, the seven-
teenth, year of the society's operations, amount to the sum
of 13,3:181. 13s. ; and they can state with certainty that
the total would have been much larger if the principal en-
graving for the year, " The Surrender of Calais," had been
completed at the time arranged, so that impressions might
have been issued when the subscriptions were received: It
is clue to themselves to state, that the engraver was bound
to finish this plate by the year 1850, and that it did not
reach the council until last month, he hating
had it in his hands five years instead of two. The
engraving in questiyn is now at the printer's, and
impressions will be distributed at the earliest
possible moment. The impressions cf the ruled engraving,
" Christ led to Crucifixion," will be issue.' at the same time.
"Toe Piper," after Mr. F. Goodall, A.R.A., is completed;
and " Richard Coeur de Lion," after Mr. Cross, is very
nearly so. Each subscriber for the ensuing year will re-
ceive impressions of these two plates. The Council have
in their hands a finished plate by Mr. Willaiore, from the
picture, " Wind against Tide : Tilbury Fort," by Mr.
Clarkson Stanfield, R.A., the appropriation of which has
not yet been determined on. They have also a plate, by
the same engraver, from the picture, A Water Pat by," by
Mr. J. J. Chalon, R.A. Many of the drawings intended
to form a volume illustrative of " Chide Harold" have
been engraved, and others are in progress. A picture by
Mr. Frith, A.R.A., " Scene from the Bourgeois Gentil-
homme " has been placed in the hands of Mr. Maguire, to
be produced in lithography. In continuation of the me-
dallic series, Mr. B. Wyon has been commissioned to pro-
duce a medal commemorative of Vanbrugh, the architect of
Blenheim ; and Mr. Car Ler to execute a medal of Sir Tho-
mas Lawrence. The tazzas in iron, allotted at the last ge-
neral meeting, have been forwarded to those who were
entitled to them. It has been determined that members
who pay a subscription for ten years in advance may re-
ceive a tazza, as a bonus, in lieu, if preferred, of a silver
medal, to wi'ich, ruder an existing arrangement, they
would be entitled. It has been further determined to repro-
duce the tazza in coloured Wedgewood ware. Amongst
the most interesting returns from abroad may be mentioned
the rcreipt of 149 subscriptions from the gold-diggers of
Australia. We may be excused for anticipating good ef-
fecti on the society there from this occurrence, and for
fir Lite gratification which our engravings may give.
.__e Merry-making" will serve to remind the far-distant
to"ers of the leafy corntry of their bit th, and the harmless
enjoyments of their forefathers ; while the "Surrender of
Calais" will recall a brilliant passage in English history,
and teach, as well the loveliness of mercy as the value of
bravery and resolution. In the department of scripture,
the Council, anxious to obtain a memorial of the late great
commander, the Duke of Wellington, offered a premium of
1501. for the best plaster model, in low relief, illustrative
of an event in his military life, intending to issue an en-
graved representation of it to each subscriber. Several
models were submitted, but unfoi tin:lately there was not
one in accordance Nr,ith the terms of the advertisement
which was sufficiently good to justify the award of the
premium. Two of the models, in high relief, had great
meth, and the Council. have since purchased one of these,
" The Duke's Entry into Math id," by Mr. Jefferson, and
propose to reproduce it in bronze for distribution. Many
are ignorant of the extent of its operations, and would be
surprised to hear that, through its direct medium, at least
170,00/. have been expented for the encouragement of
art and artists. The prizeholders have spent upwards of
90,0001. in the purchase of pictures ; the Council above
40,030/. on these and other works of al t. For picture;
purchased from the Royal Academy alone more than
31,00/. have been paid. Engravers have received from
the society 18,091. The reserved fund now amounts to
5,2231.95. 4d. The following is a statement of the receipts
and expenditure for the present year.:
subscribed £13,318 13 0

Set apaa for pictures and other prizes 8,01 0 0
Cost of engras; ngs
Printing and other expenses

£1",31313 0
The sum set apart for prizes, to be selected by the prize-
holders themselves, will be thus allotted, viz. :
Each.
25 works of the value of £lo
20
PP
20
30
PP
28
PP
28
12 PP
15 PP
12
5 PP
2 71
1

To these mill be added :-
5 bronzes, " Satan Dismayed."
10 bronzes, " Boy at a Stream."
30 tazzas in iron.
50 Pastan statuettes, " Solitude."
50 porcelain statuettes, "The Dancing Girl Reposing."
500 impression of " The Crucifixion."
The total sum appropriated to the purchase and pro-
duction of 'works of as L, including the cost of the
engraving, is 10,5194.65. Id. The Council view with great
gratification the endeavours which are being made to in-
crease the means of artistica.l education throughout the
kingdom. In a financial point of view, improvement in
the mastic features of our manufactures is of the utmost
consequence to the cov•rtry. Excellence in this respect
has given France the 1110 Acet of the world in several a-
partments of industrial skill. To obtain a real improve-
ment, the whole people must be educated to a certain ex-
tent in art. So long as they remain uuinstructed in this
respect, so long the worst patterns and forms will be pre-
ferred, and of course, therefore, produced. Manufacturers
cannot afford to fight against public taste. The bequests
of Mr. Ye, non, Sir Francis Chantrey, and Mr. Turner,
will materially affect the extent and character of
our public collections, and the inquiry which is
be: institu;A as to the best means of render-
ing National Grlleif most effective for its pur-
pose, ought to lead to impos Cant improvements in its scope
anti aizangetnents. The establishment of MUS3UtiIS and
gal lc ies throughout the provinces is much to be desired— -
not merely for the general improvement but for the special
advancement of the pas .;ieular manufactural operations
cas_icd on in the different towns. There is an act of Pa:-
liament enabling town coencils to establish public mu-
seums, and in many instances instructive collections of
casts and pictures might b 3 made m ith very little difficulty.
There is so much public sphit in the kingdom, that, if fit-
ting receptacles were provided, and a proper appreciation
of such gifts shown, dorations of works of as.; would be
constantly made to the public. The trustees of the Na-
tional Gallery are forced to reface' from time to time,
many offered donations for want of space. It is to he
hoped that before long we find a public gallesy in
every town, eloment:.ry drawing-schools in every village,
and a draughtsman in every house. The extension and
classification of the National Gallety, so that it' may Plus-
trat 2 the whole history of art is much to be desired. Having
first accumulated, we should now separate and classify.
The idea of felinity, a more complete museum of fine as ;;s,
embracing archit-Aure, sculpture, and painting, in close
connection with schools for general industrial training, has
been mooted by the Royal Commissioners of the Great
Exhibition. Without desiring to intrude any opinion on
the subject, the Council may point with gratification to
the circumstance as evidencing a determination in the
highest and most influential quarters to advance the as.-
tistical education of the county, and to provide additional
means of instructive and elevating recreation. On various
occasions your Council have ventured to suggest that our
great corporations should devote some of their wealth to
the decoration of their halls with works of fine art.—
' That they should enlist the Dowers of sit to teach as well
as adorn, and so aid in developing them.' Th 3 Cos flora-
tion of London have taken an important step in this direc-
tion, and have commissioned six leading sculptors to pro-
duce statutes in marble from the English poets for the
adornment of the mansion-house. It is to be hoped that
this good example will speedily be followed in other quar-
ters. The Council have probably said enough to show that
a consideration for art is spreading on all sides, and that
the prospect is encouraging. To the production of this
state of opinion the Art-Union of London has mainly con-
tributed, and on this ground alone, if there were no other,
is entitled to your strenuous support."
The CHAIRMAN moved that the report be received and.
adopted, and in doing so said he thought no one could
have listened to it without being instructed, gratified,
• interested. He contended that, whatever foreigners
might say to the contrary, the love of art was as inherent
in the character of the British people as in that of any
modern nation in the world. (Cheers.)
The motion was seconded by Mr. Alderman
WILSON,
and carried with acclamation.

St.
20

On the motion of Mr. FABEY, seconded by Mr. WAITS,
a vote of thanks was awarded to the Council for their
valuable services during the past year. A similar vote
was passed to the honorary secretaries, Mr. Godwin and
Mr. Pocock. Thanks were also tendered to Mr. Charles
Mathews, for the kind and liberal manner in which he
had granted the use of the theatre to the association.
The prizes, aixr having being deposited in a huge
wheel, were withdrawn at every revolution by two young
ladies, Miss Lemon and Miss Arnold—Mr. J. D. Arnold
and Capfnin Shea being appointed scrutineers.
The following were some of the principal prizes which
were drawn :
Mr. Geo. Walker, Manchester £Bo
Mr. Rogers, London and Westmr. Bank, Lothbury 40
Mr. A. Da'-. Cheltenham 4O
Mr. Walk - 71.eppel-street, Fussell square GO
Mr. Alen, C ):nhill
Mr. Barstow, Wetherly, Yorkshire GO
Miss Slee, Islington.. .............. . ..........
Mr. F. Harris, Abirgdon - 60
Mr. J. North, Ring-street, St. James's 0
Mr. Balsh, Boston, United States
Rev. 11. Allen, Canonbury, Islington lOO
W. Jarrat, Greenwich ........... .
Mr. G. W. Long, IC-gsland
Mr. Yates, Bryanstone-square GO
Mr. E. P. Brander, Isling':on
Mr. J. Cohen, Woolwich-co-Tar on GO
Mr. B. Raines, of Ewell l5O
The Rev. Mr. Ramsey, Newmarket
Mr. G. C. Edwards, Mincing-lane
Mr. Long, Euston Railway Station 100

25
25
St.
50

50
16
St.
20

3h
5-
74
Gill

10
20
20
.33A
10
20

SOHO THEATRE.---On Saturday night a new and or:-
ginal comedy, in three acts, entitled " The Respectable 20
Man." was performed for the first time, at the abovel
10,47
theatre. The occasion of the production of this play
was for the benefit of the Marylebone Dispensary ; and 20
it was acted by the members of the Vanbrugh Club. i 20
We have heard that it is in contemplation to place this 20
comedy upon the regular boards, and we will, therefore, si
reserve our full verdict until the occasion of such a first 10
night shall arrive, simply contenting ourselves by ob- 20
serving; that at the little Soho, it was not only well 10
acted, but appeared to us to act well; 20

100
all
100
5
100
all

Aberdeen .......
Do., No. 2, 7 p. c
}iris. & Ex. 4 p. c. St
Do. 4 p. C. Shares
Caledonian £lO
Chester & Holyhead.
Guar. 51 per cent.
Cork &Bandon 51 P.C.
!Dundee, Perth, and

Aberdeen Junction
E. Ang. (705.) 6 p. c.
Do. (5), 7 per cent.
Do. (1:7 17s), 7. p ct.
Eastern Counties Ex.
tension, 5 p. c. No.l
Do., No. 2
Do., Ncw 6 p. c. St
Eastern Union Scrip
Guar. 6 per cent
East Lancash. 6 p. cts
Ediub. Prth.&Dund
Glasgow & S. Western
Guar. 5 per cent
Great Northn. 5 p. c
Do. 5 p. c., Redeem
at 10 p. c. prem
Gt. S outhn. & Westn

(Ireland) Eights

Westn: (Berks &
Hants Ex. 5 p. c.)
Great Western, fixed
44 per cent
Lan. & York. F. £2O
Do., 6 p. c., Stock
London and Brighton
Guaranteed 5 p. e
Do. Pref. 5 p. c., St
Do. Convertible, 5 p
c., 1852
Do. New Guar. 6 p. c
London &S. Western,

Con. Thirds
Londonderry & Color

A Shares .............
147.ulndry. & Ennisk.

Shvres . ......
IMa.neh.,Shef.,&Lin.,

Shares, No. 1
Do., New, £lO
Do., £6 ....... ......
Harypt. &Carl. 4 p.c
Do. 4A per cent
,?! Do

Aid. Consol. 6 p. c. St.
Do. Consol. Bristol &
Blrm. 6 per cent....
Do. Pref. 4,1, percent.
NoTfalk Extension...
Do. Guar. 5! per ct.
Do. Waveney Valley
5 per cent,
North British .........
North Staffordshire..
Oxford, Worcester, St.'
Wolverh. £15,6 p. c.'
Do.

13hrowsbmy & Birm

New Guaranteed
Shrewsby. & Chester
Nor.W.(Min),3p.c.
Do. 5 per cent.
South Devon
Do. New

10
all
li
all

S. Eastern (Reading
I Ann.) f Os. 6d.
S. Yorksh. 4p. c. Guar.
Waterfd. &Kilk. 6p. c.
York, Newcastle, and
B a 'wick, 4 p. c. Pref
Do
York & N. Midland,
J. & S. Purchase...

FORE:

Alawrp . &Rotterdam
Belgian Eastn. Junct.
Charleroi & Erquelin
lYjon and BeFanon
Dutch Rhenish
East Indian
Do. Extension
Gt. Indian Peninsula
Gd. Junct. of France
Gt. Westn. of Canada
Shares
Lucca and Pistoja,
per cent. prof
Luxembourg
Do. (Railway)

Do.
Do. (Canal)
Do. 6 p. cent. pr-'
Lyons & Mediterran
Madras

Maria Antonia,
Do. New.
Namur & Liege (with
interest
Do. (ex. interest)
Northern of France
Do. 201. 3 p. c. Bds
(lniy.B.&Anis.Shs.]
NorwegianTrak.Prel
Paris and Lyors
Paris and Orleans
Paris and Rouen
Paris and Strasbourg
QPiutreiisleCcaeltn &Reichhemrboin•gd.
Rouen and .Havre
Sambre and Meuse
Do. 5 per cent. pref
Southern of France
Upper India Scrip
West Flanders

Do. 5:1 per c. Prof...
Western of France...
West. of Switzerland
;New Zealand...