Star.
London, England, 1818-03-20 00:00:00

PAINTING.

Yesterday evening,ki.ivsM.l, the Professor of
Painting, delivered his fifth Lecture. Inventhns was
the subject, and the Professor began by observing,
that the commencement, the progress, the finish, the
reputation of an Artist's work, depended upon this
faculty. The first demand from Invention was a
complete whole; the second, that it should clearly tell
its own tale—for as a Poem would be little entitled to
praise that depended for its light upon annexed
notes, so a Painting would deserve little reputation
that required illustration from a commentary.—
The Pioiessor divided subjects for the practice of in-
vention into three classes ; first, positive, advanta-
rous, commensurate ; 2dly, negative, uninteresting
in themselves and depending upon the genius of the
artist ; and idly, repulsive—that cannot pronounce
their own meaning, on which the genius of the artist
is wasted, and which never make impression, or stamp
a work with perspicuity.
With respect to the first ; without much boldness
of invention, it draws its subjects from the lap of
Mature ; such are the Madonas of Raphael, the burn-
ing of the 13orgio, the l'etrus stabbing himself while
clasping the body of Arria, the tugs, the grasp, the
groan of the Laocoon. These subjects, without re-
ference to time or place, speak the language of all
manki Id. Under this c'ass also comes History, which
exrrestes t'me, and gives a " local habitation • and a
e." We are pleased with the former subjects as
. man, with the latter, as members of society.
Legisla,ors, philosophers, discoverers, polishers of
mankind, patriarchs and divines, fall under the latter
head. Whatever makes time and place contribute
to display pathos and character, is the legitimate
style of elevated history, more properly denomina-
-vi Dramatic. Mr. Fuseli pointed out the cartoon
of Paul preaching at Athens. The dramatic was
the style of Eun,ides, of Shakspeare, and of Ra-
phael. Under the first class was likewise included,
in the name of commensurate, the Epic, with its
allegoric and symbolic attachments. The Epic,
which was the most sublime effert of human in-
vention, was the allegory of a maxim. It admitted
history as its basis, by its vastness ; it concealed its
boundai les. Nature reflected character; character
was overwhelmed by genus. In it, heaven and earth,
mingled ; men bec.ime demigods; gods descended
to men. This was the style of Homer, of Michael
Angelo,. of Milton. Mr. Fuseli took this opportu-
nity- to comment upon allegory, which, of all the
paltry subterfuges to palliate invention, was one of
the fmemost. Dr. Johnson had said that the plastic
arts can illustrate, but not inform; which the Doctor
attempted to prove by saying, that a child, on being
shown a figure of Justice with a pair of scales, would
mistake it for a cherry-woman with steelyards. The
Professor conceived that this would depend entirely
upon the genius of the artist. The general allegoric
ideas of the ancients had a uniform taste. The in-
verted tie cli, the drooping flower, were accompani-
ments of, not substitutes, for Death. Mercury de-
prived of his caduceus, Apollo of his lyre, would
still inform us of their characters.

A celebrated picture of Tiziano was also noticed.
Under this class may be comprehenied the ornamen-
tal style. Here, midst refulgent architecture, are dis-
played sumptuous tables of m tgnificence and luxury;
gaudy bands of music, the lustre of eastern draperies,
c owds of pages and dwarfs, glittering riches, splen-
did chaos ; the whole embrowned and toned by a
meridian sky. Under this class also, maybe compre •
hended portrait ; not that portrait which comprehends
and embodies the character and soul ; but the mere
transcript of feature. To this class also we add a
similar description of landscapes, an imitation of hill
a Id dale, clumps of trees, not assisted by nature, nor
dictated by genius ; little better than topography.--
The landscapes of Titian, of Claude, of Rubens, and
of Renibrant, spurn all relation with this description
of map-making.
On proceeding to the third, or repulsive class of
subjects, which are impossible to he told by art, there
were mentioned, as instances, the I)elivery of the
keys to Peter, painted by Raphael, the Testament of
the Athenian, and Moses in the 13u11rushes, by Poussin.
These were compositions without subjects.

The Earl of Rastrucin appeared yesterday at the Police
Office, Queen-square, to answer an information that had been
laid against him by a common informer, complaining that one
c, big Lordship's servants had driven u cart belonging to his
Lordship, drawn by one bullock, on the Fulham road on Mon-
day the 9th iqstimt,without such cart having his Lordship's
tame and number painted thereon, in large and legible charac-
ten, contrary to the provisions of the Act, called the Road Act
The Noble Lord asfured the Magistrate the cart was going to
eat cartwright's to receive wane small repairs, and to have the
r ame and number painted upon it, and there was no intention to
olend against the Act. The worthy Magistrate informed his
Lordship the Act was imperative, that no cart should appear on
th, road without the owner's name and number, and he must
Uvi-ztrore fine his Lordship ens. and cons; wisjch the Noble
nr. paid tat clerk immediately.

LAW INTELLIGENCE.

COURT OF CHANCERY, MARCH 19.
PRACTICE OF THE COURT. •

The LORD CHANCELLOR, in noticing the great in-
crease of business that had taken place, observed,
that the course pursued by his Honour the Vick:-
CHANcELLon appeared to be perfectly right, as it
enabled him to get through a multiplicity of business
in a short period of time. It was of the utmost im-
portance to the suitors that both branches should
proceed on a systematic plan, and the Gentlemen of
the Bar must understand, that in future, motions
must be.heard on motion-days, petitions on petition-
days, and so on.

EX-PARTE WILLING 3 IN TRZ MATTER OF COOPER.

On this case being called, Mr. HEALD, who was
not in Court at the time his Lordship made the ob-
servations above stated, requested the case might
stand over until the first day after the holidays, in-
stead of the nest petition-day, as he found, on look-
ing at his brief, that he was instructed to oppose the
prayer of the petitioner, and also that his honour
the Vice-Chancellor was the leader on the former
hearing of the case.
1 The LORD CHANCELLOR—" I will not, Mr. Heald;
if this Court is to give all the accommodation, and
the other none, we shall get through no business
whatever ; the rule laid down must be adhered to."