The Sun.
London, England, 1850-04-02 00:00:00

NATIONAL GALLERY.

The numerous specimens of the talent of old and
modern painters, some of them the finest in
,the
world, which adorn the walls of this institution, at-
tracted yesterday a crowd of visitors, who seemed to
enjoy the treat which so fine a display of art is cal-
culated to afford. The Vernon collection of pictures
has not yet been removed to Marlborough House,
but it is expected that very little time will elapse be-
fore the removal takes place.

BRITISH INSTITUTION, PALL-111ALL.
One of the earliest galleries established in the
metropolis for the exhibition of pictures of old and
living artists, has its walls covered at this season with
a very good selection of the works of the latter.
Easter Monday naturally attracted thither a larger
concourse of spectators than ordinary.
The same remark applies to the Suffolk-street
Gallery,instituted by the Society of British Artists,
whose exhibition, for the season, was opened about a
week ago.

THE COLOSSEUM.
The proprietors of this establishment, magnificent
as it is, are not disposed to relax their efforts in main-
taining its prestige and superiority. The general
features remain the same, but some changes have
been made which, no doubt, will give the exhibition
renewed popularity during the holiday season. The
waterfall is now coupled with a view of the Tete
Noire Pass and Valley of Trient, the effect of which
is extremely striking and imposing, wearing at the
same time an emphatic air of reality. Other views,
though upon a lesser scaly, court the attention of
the spectator, among them paintings by Mr. Damon,
of Netley Abbey, near Southampton, and Tchin
Schab, in China.

The Cyclorama, which forms a separate branch of
the Colosseum, will likewise have its patrons. This
costly piece of mechanic4l contrivance delineates, it
is a thrice-toll tale to tell, the city of Lisbon and the
vicinity prior to the approach of the terrible earth-
quake of 1755, as welt as the catastrophe itself—the
horrors of which are portrayed, as we ha►e often
remarked, with ingenious and impressive vividness.

TILE D.IOI?AMA.
The Castle of Stolzenfels, recently opened, pro-
mises to be one of the most attractive of the works
which have, from time to time, challenged the atten-
tion of the public. The spectator looks down upon
the fortress, and the coup deed which is presented to
him is remarkable both t.or scenic beauty and expan-
sive variety. The painting, by Nicholas Meister, is
highly meritorious as aw.ork of art.
Tha ,Shire of the NAtivity, executed by lienoux

from a drawing by Mr. David Roberts, is the revival
of an old picture—of one calculated to win the patron..
age of many to whom the subject has an interest irre-
spective of other considerations. Judged upon these
grounds its resuscitation was advisable, notwithstand-
ing its comparative inferiority to other similar pro-
ductions at the same establishment.

B URF R U'S PANORAMAS.
The anxiety at present as to the " whereabouts" of
Sir John Franklin gives a peculiar interest to the
new panorama of Mr. Burford, representing the
Arctic regions. Nothing that this gentleman
has produced has been more felicitous than this,
either as a work of art or as an instance of scenic
effect. The drawing has been made from sketches
by Lieutenant Browne, who accompanied the recent
expedition in the Enterprise, and therefore the stamp
of truth is impressed upon it. The panorama con-
sists of two serni•circular views, portraying the frozen
seas under the different aspects of summer and winter.
Altogether, these two views are extremely interesting,
and well deserve the praise that has been bestowed
upon them.
The Panoramas of Cashmere and Pompeii occupy
the other circles. The former is a remarkably fine
Oriental landscape, presenting Nature under a very
opposite condition to that of the Arctic regions.
Warmth and luxuriance are the characteristics. The
richest hues predominate, and the foliage is of that
large and exuberant growth which is only found in
these tropical latitudes. The waters which meander
through the valley give relief to the ememble, and
the general effect is enchanting. The view of Porn-
peii possesses an interest of a totally different kind.
There is the exhumed city just as it appears after the
recent excavations--a melancholy picture of a huge
and overwhelming catastrophe, and at the same time,
historically instructive as a disclosure of domestic life
two thousand years ago.

WORKS of ANCIENT and MEDIZEVAL ART.
One of the most unique and remarkable exhibitions
of the present year is that now occupying the upper
rooms of the Society of Arts in the Adelphi, elaborate
notices of which have already been published in the
leading journals. The interest, therefore, of an exhi-
bition of this historio- artistic nature speaks for itself;
and the scrutiny to which it has already been sub-
jected betokens the intelligent relish that has been
awakened on the part of the public.

THE POLYTECHNIC INSTITUTION.
This attractive haunt enjoyed its usual extensive
patronage yesterday, and visitors flocked in by
hundreds during the whole day. The programme
evinced the customary varieties of incidents, the
lectures by Dr. Bachhoffner and J. H. Pepper, Esq.,
mingling pleasantly with the experiments with
the diving-bell and the dissolving views, the
latter (a new set) containing a series of
views of the island of Ceylon, the Arctic regions,
&c. Bitt it is impossible to enter into any detail of
the " doings" at the magnificent gallery of popular
science. The entertainments are sufficient in num-
bar to occupy the spectator from morning till night,
emprising not only several specific discourses on
some definite branch of science, copiously illustrated
by experiment, but a museum of mechanical, philoso-
phical, and artistic objects of an extent unparalleled
in a popular institution. The energy of the directors
is rewarded by the unceasing countenance of " the
people," for we never remember to have visited the
place without finding a numerical audience that no
other exhibition ever enjoyed with such undeviating
permanence. But the nature of the establishment
commands this manifestation of sympathy and interest.
Amusement and instruction are here so happily
blended as to give it a character per se ; and while it
is conducted upon the liberal and judicious principles
which at present prevail, its public interest is not
likely to fail.

MADAME TUSSAUD'S.
This popular exhibition still continues a centre of
unabated attraction ; and yesterday, from an early
hour in the forenoon to an advanced one at night, an
unintermitted stream of eager spectators was kept up,
crowding, at times, the grand hall, the Chamber of
Horrors, and the Napoleon-room, to an inconvenient
degree. The building was brilliantly lit up in the
evening, and presented altogether a ►ery gay and
animated scene.