The Sun.
London, England, 1844-04-11 00:00:00

M. MANSION'S WAX PAINTINGS

The art of wax painting was well known to the
ancients, and, as a proof of its superiority over every
other species of paintings in point of durability, we
may mention the fact, that *ollie the frt seas of Ra-
phael and Leonardo da, Vinci are falling into decay,
the wax paintings on the walls of Herculaneum are
still to be seen in all their primitive freshness. The
art of wax painting was lost for centuries, but it was
re-discovered some five or six years back by a French
artist. The. frescos in the gallery of Henry 11., at
Fontainbleau, have been restored in wax, and several
pictures, on a large scale, have recently been placed
in the church of La Madeleine. The subject has re-
cently attracted much attention among artists, and
one of the successful competitors of the Cartoon ex-
hibition of last year is at present in Paris, engaged in
the execution of a large wax picture, the subject of
which is the Fates spinning the threw! of destiny,
which will probably be exhibited during the month
of June among the fresco paintings in Westminster
Hall. We yesterday were delighted by a view of
three specimens of wax paintings, by hi. Mansion,
which are at present exhibiting at Mr. Barber's, GO,
Regent Quadrant, being, we believe, the first paint•
ings of the sort ever exhibited in England. They
are exceedingly beautiful, possessing all the finish
and brilliancy of the most exquisite water-colour
drawing, with all the depth of tone of the finest oil
painting. M. Mansion, who was in attendance, ex-
plained the process, from which it appears that
colours which in oil paintings take months to dry
become dry in wax
.puintings in the course of a few
hours ; while, instead of having to wait for months
and perhaps year, for .the completion of a picture,
which is the case in fresco painting, the artist can
finial his picture at once if he works in wax instead
of oil. At a time when the decoration of the new
Houses of i'arliament occupies to so large an extent
the public attention the claims of the wax painting
are well worthy attentive consideration ; and we
trust the Commissioners will come to no final deci-
sion on the subject of thoSe decorations until they
have attentively and carefully investigated the claims
of this new branch of art. In the meantime we
would urge all artists and all lovers of art to visit this
exhibition and judge for themselves.

THE MILITARY ANNEAL FOR 1844.—This volume
by the Author of " The Artillerist's Manual," is an-
nounced for immediate publication. It will doubtless be
considered a great desideratum by the profession. The
following extract from the prospectus will sufficiently
explain the nature of the work:—" The Military An-
nual will comprise a continuous history of the military
organisation of all countries, both ancient and modern,
successively tracing the progressive improvements in
arms from the earliest period, and adverting to Martial
Law, the Proceedings of Courts-martial, &c. The late
improvements or inventions appertaining to the three
arms of the service (Artillery, Cavalry, and Infantry)
will be succinctly noted, and as far as possible each sub-
ject will be rendered not only interesting to the corps
itself, but also attractive to every soldier. A review will
be taken of Military, Scientific, and Geographical Works
published during the year, and a portion of the Annual
will be devoted to Biography, to Memoirs, and to the
relation of heroic feats of arms. An Almanac will be
introduced to record those days which have been pan-
dered memorable by the examples of courage and dis-
cipline; and the &cease of men who have distinguished
themselves in the service of their country will be duly
recorded. Every effort, in short, will be exerted to
render this work a truly useful military compTidit,n,
and a welcome adjunct to the library of every ofiscer. '