The Sun.
London, England, 1866-11-06 00:00:00

THE NEW ROYAL ACADEMY.

The plans for the new Royal Academy building will, it
is understood, soon be laid before the members ; so that the
entire future of the institution will be, in effect, determined
by what is done in the course of a few weeks. Few who
know anything about the Academy will hesitate to receive
as of the highest importance the arrangements of the edi-
fice in which the artists are to be housed. It is not too
much to say that at least half the policy of the Academy
was apologised for, if not dictated, by lack of proper accom-
modation for branches of art which have grown to import-
ance since the fanatically-classical architect designed the
structure in Trafalgar-square, with more regard for Vitru-
vius than the wants of his employers. Mr. Wilkins, in de-
signing the Royal Academy, neglected ventilation to
an extent almost as great as that which appears
in his other public work, the London University building
in Gower-street. The lighting of the interior of the
former is most unfortunate ; while the planning of the
rooms were singularly infelicitous. These defects led to
endless trouble and the exaggeration of much bitter feel-
ing; they put power in the hands of obstructive members
to keep from the exhibition those newer branches of Art
to the relationship of which with the Academy we have
on particular occasions referred, to wit, that of the water-
colour painters, who are now so numerous that, besides
two close societies, they supply another large and free ex-
hibition, to say nothing of what appears at the British
Artists' Gallery, and is often the most valuable part of it.
contents. What has befallen Sculpture from the hands of
the Royal Academy is known to every one. Even worse
is the lot of Architecture, the practitioners of which,
although eagerly seeking academical honours, generally de-
clined to have their works hidden in corners of Trafalgar-
square. Engraving—au art which not long since flourished
in this country, where some of its developments, as in
mezzotint and line, were unrivalled in Europe—is now'
quite in the dark. To the treatment' of etchers by the
hangers we have more than once called attention as being
preposterously unjust. These defects are serious enough
to provoke the gravest consideration for the new plans;
they must be remedied, so far as forethought can be effec-
tual. Finally, with regard to the Exhibition, provision
should be made for the display of pictures by foreign artists,
so that utter ignorance shall be in future the sole apology
for such monstrous follies as occurred at the last Exhibi-
tion, where the noble " Moonrise" of M. Daubigny, and M.
Legros's grave and dignified Scripture-piece, found a
shameful level near the ceiling, and a light that was equally
bad for both. It is said that the perpetrators of these cruel
follies had never hoard of M. Daubigny, and did not un-
derstand the art of M. Legros any more than they appre-
ciated the ability of Mr. Whistler and Dr. Haden as etchers!
These assertions may be correct, but we b6lieve that an
explanation of such acts of injustice is to be found only in
the carelessness of the Academical officials. At any rate
it is of the greatest importance to the Academy that scan-
dals of this sort should never be placed in the hands of its
enemies. The best security will be a well-lighted and ex-
tensive suite of exhibition-rooms, so adapted that nothing
less than deliberate malice shall be able to hang good pic-
tures over doors, as was the case this year with regard to
Mr. Robinsou's " Quirang, Isle of Skye," Mr. A. Moore's
" The Shulamite," and Mr. H. Moore's " Pilot Cutter.' ;The
schools must be accommodated simultaneously with the
Exhibition. We do not consider the lectures which are
delivered at the Royal Academy aro of sufficient import-
ance to compel the erection of special apartments where
space is so valuable. The library should bo heedfully cared
for, and cannot be allowed to remain at its present small ,
value ; it should be made accessible to all artists. Practi-
cally it is now generally available, but this is due to the
courtesy of the present librarian, not to the arrangement
of the Council.—Athenotum.

Calamitous Fire and Loss of Three Lives.

Last night a fire broke out in the extensive corner pre-
mises belonging to Mr. Lazarus, a clothier, carrying on
business at 44, Hampstead-road. The discovery was made
by a gentleman, who, in passing the building, noticed
smoke in dense bodies pouring out of the front shop. He
at once raised an alarm, and by some means a boy and an
infant were extricated from the back of the building. The
bystanders were then infcrmed that the proprietor of the
house and his wife were out, and that three children were
still in one of the upper rooms. Conductors Hutchings,
Rummens, and Arnold arrived with all possible expedition,
when the two first-named entered the third floor; but the
smoke was so hot and dense that the lamps of each became
extinguished, and had it not been for the assistance
rendered by one of the neighbours Conductor
Hutchings doubtlessly would have perished. The
conductor with his comrade again entered at another
window, but they found the same difficulty of searching
the room, as the smoke again put out their lamps, and
they were at length obliged to give up the attempt as hope-
less. Several of the land steamers quickly attended, and
under the direction of Captain Shaw and the Salvage
Corps the engines were called into operation, but the fire
could not be extinguished until the front shop was burned
out, the front room first floor very much damaged by fire:
and the rest of the hods() damaged by heat and smoke. AS
soon as the ruins were sufficiently cooled to enter, Con-
ductor Hutchings entered the place and found Emanuel,
Marian, and Sophia Lazarus, aged respectively ten, nine,
and eight years. They were at once taken to the hospital,
when it was found that, on the road to that institution,
they had all expired. This fire was caused by an escape
of gas.

CANTERBURY HALL.—Amongst the novelties at
the Canterbury Hall are Mr. Nathan Hughes' pictures of
the " Riot in Hyde Park," and of the 6° Catastrophe in the
Cathedral at Chili, Santiago." Mr. Hughes prides himself
upon being the " swiftest painter of the age," and has
thrown out a challenge to the painters of the world to
cover canvas with him with the same rapidity. The pic-
tures were exhibited at the Pantheon in Oxford-street, by
day, and the public of the South-west of London now have
an opportunity of seeing them by night. The victory II
not always to the swift, to be sure; but curiosity will pro-
bably be excited to witness the extraordinary re-production
of an extraordinary scene —" The Hyde Park Riot." Pro-
fessor Silvester continues to present his "Mystery," which
has been pronounced unfathomable by the American press,
and which Canterbury. Hall audiences seem hopelessly un-
able to solve. The "Mystery," however, is only one of a
series of brilliant illusions by the Professor.
During his stay at Biarritz the Emperor, with his
usual liberality, opened his purse to every want that
deserved his attention. Thus the Prefect of the
Basses-Pyrenees received a sum of 7,000 f. for the
poor, the society of the St. Helena medal wearers of
the department 1,000 f., and that of the Friends
of Art of Pau 500 f. His Majesty has devoted
46,000 f. to the different works which he has ordered
in the commune of Biarritz. Several other will"
mulles have likewise partaken of this liberality for
the repair of their churches. For the opening UP
of roads 10,000 f. have been given to the commune
of Sare, 5,0001. to that of Isatsou, and 8,000 f• t°'
the communes of Biarritz, Bidarray, and Louhossoa.,
The Empress also placed in the hands of the Abbe
Cestac, manager of the Refuge at Anglet, a sum of
500 f., and gave 200 f. to the Petites Soeurs des

Pauvres of Pau.
A telegraphic reply has been received fromthe
Emperor Maximilian to the messages which hne
been addressed to his Majesty respecting the health
of the Empress. The Emperor expresses approval
of the course which is being pursued by the phY.sl'
cians at Miramar, but says nothing of any intention
on his part to leave Mexico.