Star.
London, England, 1824-04-17 00:00:00

SOelETl' OF BRITISII ARTISTS.

T::e lovers of the Fine Arts will be pleased to find
that to the Royal Academy, the British Institution, and
the Society of Painters in. Water Colours, a ne
ration has been added, worthy of their alliance and of
public patronage. Scarcely ten months have elapsed
since a few Gentlemen, eminent in the respective
branches of the profession, laid the foundation of the
Society of British Artists, and in that time this
tition has not only been formed, and a splendid gallery
been erected, but its walls have been covered or its
floors filled with upwards of 700 works of art. This day
the gallery was opened for a private view to the Patrons
and Critics of the Fine Arts; but as we have not time to
enter into an examination of the pictutes, we shall trans-
fer the fcllowing somewhat abridged account of a few of
the most prominent of the pictures from the Literary
Chronicle :

44 We have already spoken more than once of this new institution
(!he Society of British Artists), and we are now able to say that
our most sanguine anticipations are exceeded, we have found the
walls covered with a profusion of subjects, in every branch of the
graphic art. The general coup d'asil of this noble suite of apart-
ments is very striking t the pictures are well arranged, and almoat
without exception placed in appropriate situations, where they can
be fairly viewed. Nothing is thrust out of sight, as if condemned
first and hanged up—up to the very top of the room, afterwards.—
Consequently, in the rooms set apart for the architectural drawings,
ftc. and engravings, the upper part of the wall is but partially
covered—but this is as it should be, and we hope that the Society
will, on no occasion, be induced to receive more pictures and draw-
ings than can be cool/vainly displayed.
'l'h. An:e-room and the (`treat Room contain the pictures in
oil, a-a aiaong these are many fine productions of the pencil. There
Is a much smaller proportion of portraits than at the Royal Aca-
demy, but what there are, ate all very far above mediocrity. Lous.l
tisk hss several excellent ones : the Duke of Sussex, Dlr. Coke,
etc. Thar of Sir John Cotterel, by Hastings (No. 13), is a finely
patched head, with admirable truth and character. In one of the
other rams 13 a portrait, in- crayons, of 3liss Cotterel (No. 470),
by the same artist, who is eminently successful in this neglected
but truly beautiful departni.nt of painting. The President, Mr.
lieaphy, has several charming portraits, but we can at present only
partici:lt:rise No. , representing three lovely children. lle has
also some excellent humorous subjects;particularly a 'Game at Put.'
In landscape, there are many very delightful and able produc-
tions. Liutou has several, but we can now notice only his magni-
ficent view of the Vale of Lonsdale, near Lancaster (No. 149) a
firer piece of actual scenery can hardly be found;—it contains al-
most every feature that an artist would select—a rich foreground,
tine expalue of cultivated country, and noble mountains in the dis.
tance. Holland has many delightful park scenes, over whose rich
verdure he has thrown a sunny glow that enhances their luxuriance.
but his Moonlight (No: 27), is one of the most poetical representa-
tions we ever beheld :—there is a delicious mellow softness spread
over this composition that cannot be too highly admired. Glover
_:as some admirable landscapes: we were most struck with that
(I,;itled a Favourite Haunt of my Youth (Nu. 104); it is indeed a
11,,5; picturesque rural spot, and an inspiring haunt for either poet
1,:- paiuter. There are several views by our old favourites, Stark,
Vincent, Elm. _ _ _

Waldo has a grand historico-poetic compositien in his own pecu-
liar style, representing the Seventh Plague of Egypt, (No. 22), and
combining the most dreadful phenomena of nature with gorgeous
piles of architecture, ranges of temples, palaces, towers, which the
devastating elements seem about to overwhelm in one universal
ruin. The whole scene is impressed with an appearance of awe and
horror. The awful visitation seems to be the catastrophe of a
mighty empire. We behold, as it were, the majesty of man as ex-
hibited in his proudest works, suddenly smitten by Heaven :—an
avenging Deity rtveala himself in the rent heavens, in the raging
atmosphere, in the desolating convulsion that threatens to annihi-
late all life; and amidst all these tremendous horrors stands Moses
himself stretching forth his red, as the Minister of Divine wrath.
:This production is every way worthy of Mr. Martin's reputation s
the subject is congenial to his talent, and is treated with the most
masterly ability : his landscapes, on the contrary, are failures.—
Alexander visiting Dingenes (No. 389), a drawing, by the same
urti6i, is a rich composition ; the group occupying the centre of the
toreground, on the bank of a river, is well arranged; to the left,
art lit she background, are seen the edifices of a magnificent city.
Ilaydon has a noble historical, or rather poetical composition. Si-
lenus, intoxicated and moral, reproving Bacchus and Ariadne for
their lazy and irregular lives (No. 129). The subject is so curious
one, that we are almost tempted to suspect the artist means more
than meets the eye, or more than mere general satire : however
this may be, we greatly admire the invention and general composi-
tion of this piece. The drawing is vigorous and fine, the figures
full of character; yet we think the countenance of Silenus might
have been more expressive. In point of colouring, this picture is
very rich, but the shadows are too red, and a greater opposition of
cool tints is wanted. This production deserves also to be noticed
as being painted in dimensions suited to a moderate-sized apartment.
There are many very interesting domestic and familiar scenes;
among which, the Widow (Nu. 84) stands pre-eminent, and cannot
tail to add to the reputation of the artist (Richter). A young and
lovely widow is trying on an elegant satin robe, which has just been
brought home by the dress-maker. She eyes the splendid attire
with great complacency, either eager to array herself for conquest,
or perhaps to yield to the wishes of a favoured suitor : nor does
her servant, a dark-eyed laughing damsel, seem a whit less delighted
than her mistress. We almost hear the rapturous exclamation that
bursts from her lips. It is altogether a very rich and well-contrived
and well-painted subject. Cross-examining the Witness (No. 197),
by Rippingillc, has very considerable merit. There is an extraor-
dinary degree of truth and naturalness, if we may use the term, in
this pi,...ure. The artist seems not to have studied effect of any
'kind, hat euietly to have copied the scene exactly as he s..w it.—
There Scene prominent figurer, no artificial arrangement, no pecu-
liar distribution of light, nothing striking in the colouring. Yet
there is none of the crudity, harshness, and insipidity, which there
must inevitably have bawl, had be not maturely considered his
composition.—No. 65, " I will Fight," by Simpson, represents two
boys (half-length mid the size of life), one of whom, in a boxing
a:utude, is withheld from attacking the object of his resentment,
by another, who is earnestly intreating him to forbear. We know
rut which is the most admirable, the countenance of the comba-
tant, or that of the other boy ; but both are charmingly painted,
and delightfully contrasted. Both faces are highly expressive of
ingenaonsne3s, even that of the irritated youth; the other is parti-
cularly mild and sweet. The colouring is delicious, pure fresh tints,
and wonderful force and relief.
There are some well.exucuted and interesting busts, by nenning
and Scoular, the two principal contributors to this part of the exhi-
bition. There is also Mr. Nest living, and almost speaking, from
the hands of Mr. Rossi, the Royal Academician, who, as well as
Mr. Northcote, have done honour to themselves and to these exhi-
bition rooms, by sending some very clever works of art."

We understand that an association, founded on similar
principle s, and professing similar objects with those of the new
Equitable Loan Company, has long existed in London, though,
horn causes which it would be too tedious here to detail, its lune-
tiqns have lung lain dormant. It has still, however, a legal existence,
a num;:rous body of share-holders, a proper assortment of Directors,
sititl a Ci.mmlttet of Manageniebt. It even claims privileges incon-
sistent with the existence of the younger institution, arid resolved,
at a Meeting on Tuesday, to petition Parliament against the estab-
lishment of the new society.
Yesterday evening, between six and seven o'clock, an
alarming fire bloke out in a house at the top of Wine-
r Ace-court, Gough-square, i lret-;tietc, occupied by Mr.
SNT irit, an oilman and chandler, which at first, from the
materials of his trade, and the closeuess of the neigh-
imurhood, threatened considerable mischief; but owing
to the timely arrival of the fire-engines, with a plentiful
supply of water, the devouring element was subdued
without doing any material injury, except to the premises
where it first commenced. 'lire house is principally let
'out in lodgings, and a poor woman, who WAS ill in bed
;Jr one of the rooms was, with some difficulty, rescued.
injury was done to the property in the house by
the depredations of thieves thin bi the the itself.—Ano•
thtr tire broke out, about one o clnck this morning, at
the house a liyam Barnet, clothes-salesman, Field-
sate, which did considerable damage to that and the
..eizhbourincr house'.