The Sun.
London, England, 1848-05-11 00:00:00

THE EGYPTIAN HALL.

THE ANGEL DELIVERING DANIEL FROM
THE LIONS.

It may be said of this surprising work, that it is not
only the largest, but the greatest picture in water
colours that has ever been produced. The efforts which
have been of late years obtained with this medium by
the artists of the British Society had greatly raised the
character of the art, and coavinced the world that it was
capable of more than modern opinions had given it credit
for ; indeed, we have sometimes seen in Pall-mall a
noble Lindscape which has tempted the conuisseur to
venture on the admission that water colours might con-
vey, in some bands, a depth and richness approaching
nearly the effects of oil ; and that possibly, in the times
of high perfection, Zeuxis and Arelles might have pro-
duced, 1$ ithout oil, those miraculous illusions of art
which the devotion of ancient dilettanti attri-
butes to them. But still there have been al-
ways misgivings on this subject. The wonders
recorded of ancient art, were still held to be above the
reach of the more feeble branch, and the feeling has been
still maintained that the history of painting has gone
wrong, that the ancients were fully acquainted with oil,
and that Sir Joshua Reynolds is right in his interpreta-
tion of Pliny, that they were masters of the supposed
modern device of glazing, or painting with transparent
colour. This picture by Mr. Burbank has much in it
that may give a new turn to the controversy. He has
here presented a grand example of the vast powers that
are comprehended within the scope of water-colour
painting. " The Angel delivering Daniel from the
Lions" is a picture t quelling in magnitude of dimensions,
in importance of effect, in grandeur, breadth, and
force of character, the most ambitious works of
high art, in the hitherto exclusive school of oil.
The general subject of " Daniel in the Lions' Den,"
has been variously treated by many of the first masters,
and has become common -place. In Mr. Burbark's hands
it has become a new subject. His conception is as
original as if he had started a new theme, and his com-
position is marked by a greatness of thought and origi-
nality equal to the conception. The grouping is poetic,
simple, and highly effective. The management of the
light is masterly in the highest degree, and produces an
incomparable effect of brilliancy and softness over all
the details of the impressive scene; and it will have been
inferred from what precedes that the colouring pos-
sesses all the fulness, depth, and force, which have been
supposed the especial properties of oil. A minute
description of the composition would here occupy too
character prophet,
and
di n e thex expression
much space, and it may be only necessary to add, that
the design and painting of the figures, the angel and the
r ems
soisetnh
masterlyethof
s ttyhlee of
angelichi g h
and art;
theth e
inspired being exquisitely presented, whilst the paint-
ing, grouping, and varied expression of the lions would
do honour to the greatest painter of animals, if his
ideality could rise to the conception of the scene in
which they are here introduced. This important work
cannot fail to be yet the subject of no small notice in
the world of art.

LAUNCH AT NBATH ABBEY.—Last evening a
splendid iron barque, upwards of 500 tons burden, built
for the Messrs. Bath, of Swansea, and intended for the
Chili trade, was launched at Neath Abbey. At the hour
appointed, several hundreds of the inhab►tants of Neath,
the Abbey, and the neighbourhood, assembled to wit-
ness the event, which passed off in a most satisfactory
manner, the noble barque gliding, after some time spent
in extricating her, into the water with ease and with
much grace. The barque was named by Miss Lambert,
La Serena, and was built by the Neath Abbey Company,
after the drawings of Mr. Alfred Sturge, and is consi-
dered a beautiful model.—Cambrian.
PREFERMENT.—The Hon. and Rev. Douglas
Gordon has been instituted by the Lord Bishop of Lon-
don to the rectory of Great Stanmore, rendered vacant
by the promotion of the Rev. T. R. White to the rectory
•f Finchley, on the nomination of the Marquis of Aber-
-00171.