The Sun.
London, England, 1822-01-30 00:00:00

BRITISH INSTITUTION

Of all the arts practised by' man there is not
one which yields a purer delight than that of
painting. It would far exceed the limits of a
Journal to enter into detailed comparisons be.-
tween it and other arts
.: we inust content 'Our-
selves with observing, that when the great end
of the art is attained, that it conveys instruction
with.delight, and that while the 'eye is pleased
with correct delineation and harmonious colour-
ing, the -mind is carried captive by the' truth of
expression, and instructed by the moral conveyed
in the representation of a well selected subject.
The learned critic of the art of. Painting may
amuse his audience or his readers by emitting
with volubility a torrent of cant phraseology, to
which few, or indefinite, ideas are attached4,and
thus gain the approbation of the ignorant and the
weak; hutlhose whose superior mental qualifi-
cations enable them to enter into the delineated
expression; of various feelings—to quickly per-
ceive correct representations of . nature, whether
chosen from amid her silent walks, or caught
frOm the transients effects of elemental war,—or
to soar into the regions of fancy under the guid-
ance of the imagination that has embodied its
own ideal conceptions, or depicted those which
have been desCribed by. others, have not need
of a knowledge -of systems and rules by which
to deprive themselves •of pleasure, and chain
down their Mind so as to prevent it from follow-
' ing:the- train of ideas which must have occupied
the artist while composing his. work. -.Under
this conviction we shall leave others to chatter
about gusto and pyramidal groups, grand con-
torno, and mechophanic manner, and speak in
general and intelligible terms of the prominent'
specimens of art now exhibiting in-the British
Institution, interspersing our remarks with those
observation's which every amateur and con-
noisseur may • indulge in,- without assuming the
higher province of the: learned critic.' Before
we mention any of the. works, justice corn-
pels us to say, that the pictures are not ar-
ranged with the judgment usually displayed by
the Committee. There are many pictures which
from the size of the figures, and the style of the.
execution,would have admitted of highersituations,
• but which have been placed too low to be seen
with advantage, and have thus prevented many
highly wrought productions. from being brought
into notice. In confirmation of our statement, we
will give one glaring example: a Concert Charn7
petre, containing, gigantic portraits of Miss
Stephens, Mrs. Salmon, (we believe). •Madame
Camporese, and Ambrogetti, measuring almost.
ten feet by sevens is so placed that the heads are
rather below the level: of the eye, while Mr.
Frazer's exquisitelY7Tniilied performance, No.
314, is hung in the dark so high, that it. will be
found with difficulty, and then be but indistinctly
seen. We hope that this defect has arisen from
accident, and will never again call for our just
animadversion.
No. 94.—The Larder Invaded.—E. LaNnsErit.
When we consider the age of Mr. Edwin Landseer, and con-
template this surpyizing picture, we are lost in astonishment
at so young a man's producing a work which in drawing, co-
louring, execution, and truth to nature, Classes him with Sny-
ders and Hondoekooter. The skill of the Artist has tri-
umphed over the subject, and admiration is extorted before the
mind hes hen permitted to examine the-structure of the work
Which has corned it .captive. A profusion of game and other
stores of the Larder have been invaded by a Cat, who is dis-
turbed by the arrival of a dog .to share in the plunder ; at the
discovery of each other, the object of both becomes secondary.
Puss in terror, threatening defence, is, with gleaning eyes,
ears closely pressed down, and open mouth, hissing at her
enemy and almost seems to breathe. The dog, all eagerness
and spirit, is curling his lip and preparing to attack Grimalkin.
Between is a finely arranged mass of 'game and fowls of dif-
ferent kinds, which are painted almoit to deception. It would
be impossible, from the nature of the subject, to enter into a
detail of its beauties : but, without annulling one syllable of
what we have advanced, we will hazard a thought or two on'
some points which prevent us from pronouncing the work to be
perfect, though we have not temerity enough to undertake to
maintain them. The belly of the dog and -some parts of the
back ground appear to recpire More finishing ; his right paw
does not seem to be quite in 'the place where it would be best
in composition, and there may .perhaps be a little deficiency in
the breadth of shadow, which supplied, might add to the effect
of the picture.-r-N0.122, The Watchful Centinel, is a picture
full of truth and. beauty. We regret that the dog was not
made the principal in some well chosen subject, which would
have given wider scope to the talents of Mr. Landseer. We
do not think the back ground of this picture agreeable.
No. 12.—Landscape from Chatterton's Ballad of Charitie.