The Sun.
London, England, 1851-06-12 00:00:00

THE SUN,

FINE ARTS.
PYNE'S LAKE SCENERY.

[ln consequence of the number of applications
which have reached us for copies of the subjoined
criticism, we are induced to reprint it for the satisfac-
tion of our subscribers.]
Almost every week enables us to announce some
new pictorial exhibition to the lovers of art, as having
been opened somewhere or other in the metropolis.
In this manner we have successively notified the ex-
cellencies or defects perceptible in the galleries
throughout London from that of the Royal Academy
downwards. Nevertheless, while we have repeatedly
found reason to eulogize the originators of these col-
lections, we have seldom had more peculiar cause than
in the present instance for felicitating them very cor-
dially on their union of judgment and enterprise.
To the Messrs. Agnew and Sons, of Manchester, the
public are indebted not only for the di-play of this
noble collection of paintings at the establishment
of the Messrs. Graves, near the Opera Colonnade,
but for, what is of yet greater interest to the
mass of the community, the promise of their
ultimate re-production in the form of engravings. It
must surely be counted as among the curiosities of
the picturesque that, notwithstanding the matchless
beauty and celebrity of the lake scenery of England,
there has been no attempt until the one here noticed
at any consecutive series of pictures by way of their
illustration. Fortunately, the task has fallen to one
of the most gifted artists of our time, one of the most
brilliant among the many noble landscape painters of
our country and generation—a worthy contemporary
of Stansfield, and the most successful among the dis-
ciples of Turner. At any period a visit to the apart-
ment adorned by these five-and-twenty exquisite
productions would have proved to ourselves pecu•
liarly agreeable, revealing as each picture does the
genius of art and the splendour of nature as they are
in England, but our satisfaction upon both these
heads is, of course, especially enhanced by the pre-
sence of so many intelligent foreigners in the me-
tropolis, men who may here be enabled
to form something like an adequate idea of the
powers of English artists, and of the loveliness of
English landscapes. What adds, moreover, very con-
siderably to the pleasure with which the collection

will be viewed, is the fact that so many will be enabled
to appreciate the truthfulness with which Mr. J. B.
Pyne has delineated the magnificent scenery of Cum-
berland, as well as the poetic genius he has revealed
in the process of that same delineation. Remem-
brance will tell the majority of spectators the close
adherence to reality maintained by the artist, even at
moments when to the ignoranthe would seem most to
have idealized his subject in regard to colour, to per-
spective, or to elevation. Literary as well as physical
recollections will force themselves likewise upon the
minds of most people while surveying these re-
markable drawings, representing as they do spots
of our beloved fatherland hallowed by the resi-
dence of genius, green nooks familiar to the foot-
steps of Coleridge, sunny orchards haunted by
Hemans, woods and umbrageous coppices where
Wordsworth has so often strolled, where Southey has
meditated over dreams of oriental romance, where
Wilson has mused over the marvels of creation, De
Quincey over the wonders of intellectual speculation,
and Arnold over the miraculous truths of philosophy.
Such is the classic region whose charms have been
here portrayed by the luminous pencil of Pyne,
with not less faithful adroitness if regarded under
their most homely, or under their most sublime
aspects. The names merely of some of the paintings
referred to will be sufficient to remind the generality
of the beauty with which, under the hand of Pyne,
they are instinct. There is "Buttermere," for in-
stance (No. 1), and this, too, under the influence
of a tempest. Then there are " Basenthwaite"
(No. 2), with a portion of Skiddaw ; and
"Derwent" (No. 3), w ith a perspective peeping
into Barrowdale ; and " Windermere" (No. 4) as it
appears when approached from Ambleside; and " Ry-
dal" (No. 5), with a sombre darkness over it as if
mourning for its great departed ; and " Grasmere "
(No. 6), with that wondrous gleam of light streaming
round the corner of the boulder stones in the fore-
ground, with the sheep thrown out into bright light,
while overhead in the next picture (No. 7), near " Kes-
wick," the moon floats a pale and ghostly crescent
in the watery distance of the sky. Thirlemere, Wy-
therburn, West Water, Lowes Water, Langdale
Pikes, Dungeon Gill Force, Ennerdale, Brothers'
Water, Crummock Water, are none of them forgotten,
each being represented with a marvellous verisimili-
tude. " Skiddaw" (No. 10) is depicted with astonish-
ing power under the appearance it assumes when
covered with autumnal snow. " Ulleswater" (No.
11) again is an exquisite composition. The
incident of the overloaded timber waggon pausing as
it descends from Gowbarrow-park, is charmingly in-
troduced. In (No. 14) a view embracing the Vale of
Keswick, Basenthwaite Lake, and the River Greta,
may be recognised one of those peculiarities of colour
which we have already alluded to as observable in the
Lake District, the pink clay and pebbles lying in
the left-hand corner of the foreground. Another
splendid painting is (No. 17), that of the Lake of
Windermere, the hand of the artist being every-
where traceable from the fleecy sinus or mackerel
sky to the men who have clambered up into the
tree tops in the frolics of the regatta. " llawes
Water and Wallergill Force" (No. 19) are rendered
with surprising ability, the foaming cascade reminding
us in its descent of the impetuous and inspiriting
verses of Southey on the cataract. It were frivolous,
however, to attempt a mere matter-of-fact enumeration
of the merits of this series of pictures, requiring us
they do, more than one visit for their full and
perfect appreciation. Every one familiar with the
great and rare powers of Mr. Pyne as an artist—
and not only as an artist, but also as a poet and a
geologist, a poet in sentiment and a geologist in the
minuteness of his observation—will conjecture what
must be accomplished by him when, as in the instance
before us, he has undertaken to depict the lake scenery
of England. To such as these, and to the rest of the
public indiscriminately, we commend these five-and-
twenty most remarkable paintings, which, for their
representation, not only of earth, of water, of foliage,
and of cloudland, but of airy distances and atmos-
pheric phenomena likewise, must be eulogised as no-
thing less than artistic masterpieces.

SPORTING INTELLIGENCE.
HAMPTON RACES.
The commencement of the Manchester races on the
same day, by drawing away several parties—either
owners of horses or members of the ring—to some ex-
tent prejudiced the gathering yesterday on Moulsey
Hurst; it happened fortunately, however, that atter two
wretchedly cold wet days, the weather proved extremely
favourable; this, and an unusually good list—the result
of an improved and more liberal management—attracted
a large company, the attendance, although it evidently
lacked something in fashion, being in number fully up
to what we have usually seen on the first day. In the
absence of Mr. Hibburd, from continued indisposition,
the duties of clerk of the course, starter, &c.,`` were en-
trusted to Mr. E. Hibburd and Mr. Walton, Mr. Clark,
of Newmarket, filling the more responsible office of
judge; each acquitted himself satisfactorily; in fact,
there was nothing to cavil at in the management, except
the order in which the races were arranged, a match
which came to nothing being first on the card, and the
heats between the Surrey and Middlesex Stakes and
Claremont, instead of being last; this error of judgment
would have been avoided had the order of running been
left to the stewards. The sport was ample, and was got
through with a commendable attention to time, and with
no other drawbacks than the contretemps in the race fer
the Claremont Stakes, and three or four rows in the in-
closure amongst the " outside" betting fraternity, who,
we take for granted, would not have been admitted had
it been possible to identify them; one or two narrowly
escaped ducking.
Our list of the titled and fashionable will be short.
It embraces only the Marquis of Drogheda, Lord Clif-
den, Lord Strathmore, Lord Lurgan, Lord Robert
Clinton, Lord Stanhope, Sir W. W. Wynn, the Hon.
Major Needham, Hon. Major Pitt, Hon. Capt. Rous,
Hon. Fred. Villiers, Captains Foster, Dixon, Dorsey,
Little, Oakes, Blair, Bastard, Higgins, and Pettat.
Messrs. Payne, Standish, S. Graham, G. Sturt, Ma-
gennis, Archdall, Gregory, Newton, Martyn, Crommelin,
Seymour, Rainsbottorn, Berkeley, &c., &c.
The racing does not call for a very lengthy report.
March 50. Catch weight. Two miles.
Mr. Waller's Little Queen Received.
Mr. Morgan's Lady Ann Paid.
The Stand Plate of 501. added to a Sweepstakes of 3
sous. each, for three yrs old and upwards; the winner
to be sold for 200/. Once round and a'dis. (5 Subs.)
Mr. Goodman's b c Cheddington, 7st 71b...(5. Mann) 1
Mr. J. S. Douglas's Irene, 3 yrs, 7st 41b (Abrahams) 2
Mr. Taunton's cby Bretby, 7st 71b (Donald) 3
Baron Rothschild's fby Kremlin, 7st 71b (Langham) 4
Mr. J. Stinton's Odessa g, 7st 41b
Betting-2 to 1 sgst Irene, 2to 1 sgst K(rßeamshlianmfillys,
and 3 to 1 each agst the o.
Irene
t 0
the t u
rann,d
wherethe O dtehses made
was
tpalkaoyo
o p alternatelyby th e
latter, followed by Cheddington; this pair held the
front to the distance, where Cheddington took the lead,
and ran home a clever winner by a length, Irene, who
came at the last, obtaining the second place. Run in 3
min. 10 secs.
The Corinthian Stakes of 10 soya, each, 5 ft, and 25
added, for three yrs old and upwards, gentlemen
riders, the winner to be sold for 2004, &e. Once
round and a dis. (5 Subs.)
Mr. C arew's Rem un erator, 4 yre,lost 1 01b(Capt.Little) 1
Mr. Berkeley na Presto, 3 yrs, 9st 81b (Mr. Berkeley) 2
Mr. Elwes'a Stockbridge Buck, 4 yrs, lOst 71b(Owner) 3
2 to '1 on Remunerator, who made nearly all the run-
ning, and won by a length. Run in 3 min. 12 sees.
The Surrey and Middlesex Stakes (handicap) of 20
soya. each, 10 ft, and 5 only if declared, with 50
added by the Proprietors of the Course, the second
to save his stake. Two miles. (45 Subs., 31 of
whomdecl A
declared.)
Mr. R. Barrow's bd
anah,
4 yrs, Est 81b (G. E.Sharp) 1
Major Pitt's Vampyre, aged, Bst 71b . (Sly) 2
Mr. Douglas us Don Pedro, 3 yrs, sst'7lb (Fordham) 3
Mr.C.Form by's Ballet Girl, 4 yrs,6st 91b(li.Sherwood) 4
Mr. Carew's Eva, 5 yrs, 7st 71b (Dookeray) 5
pir, A. p, Orratiana pa Tilsit, 5 yrs, 65t 911),..(A. lad) 6