The Sun.
London, England, 1856-03-17 00:00:00

NG, MARCH 17, 1856.

THE 22,000 PAULO VERONESE !

A handful of fairy gold turned into dead leaves
—a pig in a poke—Hobson's choice—anything
most ridiculoui in the shape of a "bad bargain"
would be just a treasure trove to, the preposterous
addition recently made to the National Gallery !
The big picture called " The Adoration of the
Magi," painted by the grand old master Paolo
Cagliari, otherwise known as Paulo Veronese ! A
picture paraded in the place of honour—at the
top of the principal apartment. A picture having
the one conspicuous quality, no doubt, of being
very large--but having other qualities, besides,
not a jot less conspicuous—qualities rendering
it, to us, at least, decidedly unpleasant as a sub-
ject for contemplation. In it, we look in
vain for the distinguishing characteristics of
the masterhard from which the painting no
doubt emanated —we look in vain for each
familiar sign-manual of Paulo Veronese, his fine
warm colouring, his rich and noble composition.
The arrangement of the picture is not only thea:ri-
cal, but actually melo dramatic. The colouring
is not only tawdry, but positively lurid. We speak
of this boasted work of art after having examined
it carefully where it hangs now at the head of our
national collection. After traversing the outer
rooms, in order to approach the new importation
—we defy any person but the most infatuated
believer in the infallibility of the taste of Sir C.
Eastlake to examine this huge canvass which ho
has brought over to England from the Continent
as such a "God-send" without experiencing sen-
sations of, mingled dismay and disappointment.
Passing through the outer rooms before we get to
it, there are the dear old favourites familiar to us
all—that divine Fece .Homo of Correggio ! that
matchless Christ and the Doctors of Leonardo !
that .wonderful Holy Family of Murillo !
that astonishing Old AI an's Head of Vandyck !
that exquisite Cuyp ! those delicious Canalettos !
those marvellous Rembraudts ! Together with
glimpses, besides all this, of what Thompson sang
in his " Castle of Indolence"—

" Whate'er Lorraine light touched with softening hue,
Or Savage ReEa da,ked, or learned Pousein drew."
Beholding in the angelic features of the St Catherine
and in the colossal fragment of the Massacre of
the Innocents testimony actually before us of the
truth of Dyrden's couplet—
" See Raffaelle there, his forms celestial trace,
Unrivalled sovereign of the realms of grace."

And after wandering through the galiery—look-
ing to th; right hand and to the left, to the faded
but exquisite Venus of Titian, to the golden
glories of our own Turner's Lido Building
Carthage, to the St. John• of Parmegiano, and the
Landscape of Rubens, to school after school, to
masterpiece after masterpiece, we come at last to
the great, grand, crowning triumph of the whole
collection, as we are led to expect—this vaunted
picture of the Adoration of the Magi, by Paulo
Veronese. The horridest specimen of a great
master that perhaps could well be conceived—
coupling its demerits with its magnitude !
One gazes at it without a single, eve❑
momentary, sensation of pleasure. Nay—the
very reverse. Our emotions are diametrically
opposite to the pleasurable. We have already de-
scribed them, and described them wo,believe cor-
rectly, as those of mingled dismay and disappoint-
ment. And for this—for this " thing"—we are
coolly informed that 1,9891., in fact just &es()
upon 2,0001. in round numbers, have been paid
out of the public purse in obedience to the ad-
vice of our maundering President of the Royal
Academy! No wonder the bon. member for Staf-
ford appeared to lie incredulous of the fact on
Friday evening, until informed of the perfect ae-
curacy of the rumour by Mr. Wilson, the acquiescent
mouthpiece of their very easy-going Lord-
ships of the Treasury. 1,9771. for the picture
and 121. for its carriage from Paris—paid over
with the concurrence, at the suggestion, by the
advice, of Sir Charles Eastlake ! Eve❑ now the
reality of all this seems scarcely conceivable!
We knew perfectly well of course—the cir-
cumstances being familiar to almost every
studert in art—that Paulo Veronese had oc-
casionally violated the laws of painting as
in the instance of his picture of Perseus and
Andromeda, in which, contrary to the strict
rules of his art, he had represented the principal
figure in shade. But then we could remember
that he acted thus at those moments of apparently
unaccountable caprice, for a purpose—as in the
very case alluded to, where his intention, accord-
ing to the sagacious view of Sir Joshua Reynolds,
was " solely to produce an effect of light and
shadow ; everything being sacrificed to that
one intent, and the capricious composition of
that picture suiting very well with the style which
he professed." But this big, melodramatic,
straggling, lurid painting of his—The Adoration of
the Magi•—it stands apart altogether—beyond any
previous conjecture of ours as to the extent of his
violation of the rules of his art, as to the daring
of his capriciousness ! Vainly should we look in it
for any justification of the famous panegyric pro-
nounced by Du Fresnoy "Paulo Veronese
was wonderfully graceful in his airs of women,
with great variety of brilliant draperies, and
incredible vivacity and ease ; nevertheless," adds
the author of the Arte Graphica, " his composi-
tion is sometimes improper, and his design incor-
rect [as, certainly, in this instance !] : but his
colouring, and whatsoever depends on it, is so
very charming in his pictures, that it surprises at
the first sight, and makes us totally forget those
other qualities in which he fails." UNhappily in
The Adoration of the Magi even this redeeming
merit of rare colour is altogether awanting ! The
picture, to our mind, was never intended by
Paulo as a deliberate manifestation of his genius
—it was rather a hugo canvass requiring to be
filled in with as little regard as possible to colour,
or drawing, or composition. Altogether—a truly
wretched evidence of evil taste on the part of the
President of our Royal ,Academy ! A blunder
that ought to preclude him, henceforth, from the
possibility of squandering again the public money
thus preposterously.
Already we have given Mr. Hurlestone's opinion
upon the matter. Subjoined we may now add
that of another intelligent correspondent :

Sir,—Some years since a committee of inquiry sat
and heard evidence which, to the public at least, proved
that our national collection of pictures included several
specimens iedifferently representing the masters by
whom they were painted, as well as some absolute copes
which cost the nation large sums of money. These pro-
ceedings, however, were futile, inasinuea as the pictures,
those condemned by the concurrent testimony of-men of
acknowledged judgment, still disgrace the walls in Tra-
falgar-square. It would seen as if some fatality new
tralised all attempts to assert England's' naiionat appre-
ciation and patronage of the fine art Fainting. Thus,
when a collection of paintings by native artlsts—ranking
second only to that of Mr. Vernon—was bequeathed to
the people, it was consigned for a long time to i:car-
I in cellars, and thence transported to Merl-
borough-house, where it still hybeinates h a sort of
darkness visible. The next step was to appoint a
keeper of the National Gallery, and then a traveller, at
a heavy charge to the public, and what are the results ?
—a Holbein, a " School of Belline," (No. 234 in the
catalogue) and " The Adoration of the Magi" just pur.
chased—the first long since sentenced—the second,
which cost 500/. at Woodburn's, are perfectly worthless;
and the third a convincing proof of the inc ,mpetency of
those to whom it is permitted to expend in pictures by
old masters, the small amount of money voted periodi-
cally for the purpose of enriching our national collection.
The two salaries and heavy travelling expenses are
certeicly paid in vain, when we find that they end in the
further outlay of nearly 2,000/. in the acquisition of a
specimen of Paulo Veronese, which has nothing to re-
commend it unless it be its magnitude.
I totally disagree with those who terns " The Adora-
tion of the Magi" a copy—there is little doubt it was
a commission (cometbiog of the nature of an order for a
drop Beene), to be painted for a specified sum of money,
of certain dimensions, as an Attraction to the edifice for
which it was destined—for it was evidently not executed
with any regard to the fame of the artist, and although
the design is comprehensive, it is theatrical rather than
seriously impressive, and having been much injured,
many portions of the picture have been so clumsily
repaired, that the bungler's work is patent to the most
inexperienced eye; then the contemptuous expression of
the Virgin—the convulsion of the Infant, tho nonde cript
lambs are actually such gross caricatures that one might
be led to suspect the painter had designedly expressed his
estimate of the terms of the commission. How any men,
even had they never seen another picture but No. 26,
" The Consecration of St. Nicholas" from the hand of
Paolo Cagliari, could so misapply the funds entrusted
to them as to purchase for their employers this debate-
able specimen, when they were already possessed of
that work, which is in the best mariner of the master
and in excellent condition, is a mystery which, to men
of common sense, is inexplicable 1 And whilst on the
subject of No. 26, let me avow that a cleaning has, in

SPORTING NOTES.

ODDS AND ENDS.

So far as steeplechasing and horse-racing are con-
e ned, the current week .will be " drawn blank."
Still turfites will have sufficient to occupy their
attention in the preparations for the approaching
gathering at Northanspton—the first really important
legitimate meeting of the season. The betting on the
"Stakes" has been somewhat limited, but Winkfield has
been in much request. Wells is engaged to ride him,
and well-founded confifence is placed in the horse's
chance.

The two days' racing It Salisbury last week was
marked by several incidents of prospective importance.
With judicious management the meeting is likely to be
come as popular as any of the early Spring gatherings.
By the way, strange stories were told at Salisbury of
the eccentricities of the "Squire," who has, in high
dudgeon, removed his horses from Warrener's. A
pretty quarrel it seems has arisen, and the " Squire "
is likely to be involved in legal difficulties.
Some surprise has been excited theta() absurd a letter
as that which appeared in the Times on Saturday last,
condemnatory of steeplechasing as a cruel and barbarous
sport, should have obtained insertion in that influential
joernal. The writer's squeamish sympathy wad R
sa-
Matilda horror were most amusing to people who know
anything of steeplechasing or the hunting field. Why,
bless his sensitive and timid nature, does he know that
there is not half the danger to life and limb in a steeple-
chase that is daily experienced in the hunting field ? He
belongs to that class of people who would have all
healthful and hardy sports abandoned for Sybarite ease
and slothful enjoyment. Of course, be would decry
cricket because fingers are occasionally broken or shins
damaged in the pursuitof that invigorating game. Boating
and yachting, too, be would doubtless put down, because
people wlso engage in them are sometimes drowned.
Fishing is, of course, in his opinion, a barbarous pas-
time, because the "finny tribes" are hooked bleeding
from their native element. Shooting naturally horrifies
him, and the thoughts of hunting must bring tears down
his " sensitive nose," because a pack of hounds scud to
the hcundsman's cry in chase of a poor timid hare, a
stag, or a fox. Mr. Leech's humorous and graphic pic-
tures of the moving accidents which fox-hunters encoun-
ter by flood and field roust fill this considerate creature's
soul with horror and dismay. Out upon such maudling
sentiment and mock sympathy as that expressed by this
precious correspondent of the limes.
Another bard blow has been dealt at the system on
which Selling Races are now invariably arranged.
Clerki of courses have thought proper to set the Jockey
Club law at defiance, and to ignore altogether the New-
market rule of claiming. The following resolution will
therefore be moved, and doubtless adopted, at the next
meeting of the Jockey Club :
" That the stewards of the Jockey Club shall not han-
dicap for a race at Newmarket, or at any meeting of
which they are ex-officio stewards, any horse that, after
the passing of this resolution, shall run for a selling race
not under the Newmarket rule-of claiming."
This resolution will cut off a great portion of the re-
venue of certain clerks of cdurees, but it will at the same
time impart something like honesty and fair play into
Selling Races. A FRESH MAN.
March 17.

this instance, tended to elicit the original brilliano of LIAEKFIE NEWS.—(This Day.)
the colours and the deliciously contrasted grey," the
•
value ancktanagement of which none so well underetocd
as this great master of composition and colour. CORN EXCHANGE.
Parliament is called uponA put a stop to this The whole of the country markets held on Saturday
waste of ways an means, and I believe the largest were active for wheat, and prices advanced to setae extent,
proportion of those who feel an interest in art with only moderate supplies on offer. Barley and most
would be proud to see any money, that can with other spring corn, including flour, were dearer.
propriety be devoted by Government to the purpose, The near Continental markets have become somewhat
spent in the first place in the erection of a fittine.'
firmer for wheat, and prices have had an upward tendency.
big for the exhibition of the munificent gift of Robert •
The shipments from Crimea of late have been very mods.
Vernon—as an inducement to further bequests and pre-
sentations ; and, that desideratum being effected, then rate-
to the annual purchase of native, rather than " old" Up to our market last week, the arrivals, of English
works, especially under the present system.—R. W. grain were limited. The imports were 8,712 quarters of
wheat, 16,847 oats, 14 beans, 367 tares, 2,762 linseed,
5,721 rapeseed, 5 mustard seed, 12 sundry seeds, and 40
sacks of flour.
There was received fresh up to our market to-day, coast-
wise, only a small supply. of Engliali wheat, in about ave-
rage condition. By land carriage the receiptswere trifling,
and the show of samples' was very moderate: The attend-
ance of buyers was by no means extensive. For most
kinds of wheat of home produce we had a fair, but not to
say brisk demand, at 4s to 5s per quarter above the rates
current on Monday last.
We were but moderately supplied with foreign wheat.
The trade was not so brisk, yet the quotations were 2a per
quarter higher than on this day se'unight.
Floating cargoes were held at very full prices.
Scarcely any foreign barley was in the market, and the
supply of English was limited. The trade was firm, at
fully is per quarter above the rates currant on Monday
last.

Malt was in good request, Red is to 2s per qr. dearer.

There was an improved feeling in the oat trade, and, in
most instances, the quotations advanced 6d to is per

quarter.

We had a fair demand for beans, and prices had an up•
ward tendency.
Peas changed hands steadily, at very full prices.
The flour trade was firm, and the quotations were 3s to
43 per quarter higher than on Monday last. The top price
of Town-made was 65s per 2iOlbs.

Wheat—Essex Kent,
Red new 61sto 75a
Ditt0........ old —s --e
Ditto, White new 625 78s
old —5 —s
norfolk and • Lin-
coin, Red, old —s —3'
Ditto new •....• 591 72s
;q4,—Old ............ —8 —S
Sew . .....• 45s 4731
Barioy—Grlndlng••• •• 3'is 33g,
'•falting ..• .....• 32; 36s'
. . 37s 42s
ifilt—SulrolkandNor-
71s 76s
drown••••• •• ......•• 65s 66s
KingstonandWare 74s 75s

CURRENCY PER IMPERIAL MEASURE.
Malt—Chevalier .... 76s to 774
Oats Yorkshire and
Lincoinsk., Feed 22s 245
Potato
Youghat and Cork
81ack....... 205 221
Cork, White ..... 21s 254
Scotch. Feed..... 26s 300
Beans—Tick 33$ 31"
Pigeons ...... •• •• 39• 424
Peas—Grey ..•• •• •• •• 325 365
Maple ••••••• •• • • 355 305
White. •••••• .• •• 395 425
Boilers ......... 435 460
Flour—Town-made... 63e 655
Suffolk .......... 495 fa
Stooktn & Norfolk 50s 540

METROPOLITAN CATTLE MARKET.

Last week's imports of foreign stock into LOndon
amounted to only 181 head. In the corresponding week
in 1855 we received 555 ; in 1854, 2,399 ; in 1853, 2,488 ;
in 1852, 1,726 ; in 1851, 2,12 E ; and in 1850, 1,920 head.