The Liverpool Standard and General Commercial Advertiser.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1836-10-07 00:00:00

THE EXHIBITION OF PAINTINGS.

On Wednesday evening the exhibition-room was illuminated
with gas, the proceeds of the evening being for the benefit of
the public charities. The mere illumination of the room, how-
ever, Was not of sufficient attraction to till it. In some respects
it was of advantage to the paintings, giving them an appear-
ance of richness and warmth which the colder hue of daylight
does not possess. The light was also to some of the pictures a
decided improvement, whilst to others it completely spoiled the
effect, as for instance, in the fine painting of the entombment
of Christ in the south room of which it was impossible, owing
to the reflection of the light, to get a perfect view. Among the
paintings in the great room, which were improved by the addi-
tional richness of light, was Cooper's magnificent painting of a
Summer's Noon, (No. 7.) It is a most beautiful painting of
cattle; the idea is taken from "Thompson's Seasons."
" Around the adjoining brook that purls along the vocal grove,
A various group the herds and flocks compose. Rural confusion 1"
No. 103, "An interview between Charles the First and Oliver
Cromwell," was also greatly improved in depth of shade, and an
additional boldness given to the fine figure of Cromwell. This
is truly a magnificent picture, and deservedly ranks high in the
exhibition. Pennington's various beautifully finished land-
scapes, in all their neatness, appeared like perfect gems with
the added glow of the rich light. No. 121, Curiosity." by
Mr. Thomas Webster, is an admirably conceived idea. The
mischievous archness of the children peeping under the cover
at the roasted pig, their attitudes, and the drawing of the pig's
head are richly delineated. No. 124, " Kilchurn Castle—Loch
Aive," by Mr. T. F. Williams, also appeared to great advau-
tage. It is a fine landscape, and well painted: No. 149, "The
Opponents," a group of dogs and cats snarling over a dead
bird, by S. A. Hart, is a finely executed painting. The ex-
pression of the inflamed eyes of the animals as they glared on
each other was finely shown in the strong light. No. 168, a
painting of " A dead Knight guarded by his Dogs," is a highly
wrought poetic idea, and finely pourtrayed. No. 176, " A Pea-
sant Boy," having a sheaf of wheat under his arm, is a well-
finished painting, and naturally drawn. It was this evening
better seen. In the south room we must recur to our former
opinion, that decidedly the finest painting in the room is No.
236, " A Smuggler looking out," by H. P. Parker. It is start-
ingly natural. The best view of it is obtained close to the wall
at the upper end of the room. No. 260, " Nutting," is• a ro-
mantic and highly imaginative landscape, but rather overdrawn,
It is a delightful idea of rural felicity, which reality never bore
out. Beneficence was never so prevailing in a nutting lad's
breast us to lead him to mount a tree, and scatter the rich nut
harvest in profusion pro bon° publico to the eager expectants be-
neath, whilst he himself appeared satisfied with diffusing good
things to others. No. 2T2,"'The Enchantress twining the ma-
gic wreath of dreams for Nourmahal," is a painting of rich co-
lour, and the countenance of Nourmahal is exceedingly beauti-
ful either as a portrait or in finish. The adjuncts, however, are
not altogether in perfect keeping. No. 285, "The Court Mar-
tial," is deserving of notice for the richness of the idea. As
regards painting it is nothing extraordinary, but the scene is
full of humour. The crying child, with the open bird-cage,
appealing to the old veteran for judgment against the offending
and luckless cat, which is made to keep " heads up," by being
tied fast to a spade stuck in the ground, whilst a sergeant,
stilt'
as at' drill, attends on his prisoner, is highly ludicrous, and irre-
sistibly forces a smile. No. 288, "The 'Favourite Pup," by
Miss E. Jones, is an exceedingly well executed painting. Nu.
317, "Boy and Bubbles," by the same fair artist, is also an ex-
cellent painting. The great beauty of both these is the perfect
keeping, and truth to nature, which pervades them. No
stiffness, no made-up attitudes, or dress; there they are, the
very impersonation of lads riant in mischief.
The fine painting
of "Cordelia lamenting over Lear in his sleep" was seen to
great advantage in the strong light. No. 311, " A View near
Haarlem—Moonrise," by H. P. Crouse, is a gorgeous paint-
ing, and the glow of the gas-tight assimilated well with it,
and added to its effect. No. 387, "'Taming of the Shrew," by
W. F. Ayrton, is a vile daub, like nothing in the heavens above,
or in the earth beneath. The right arm of the shrew looks as if
it had been chopped off and pinned on again in the wrong place.
The small landscapes hung on the stand in the centre of the
great room are some of them most wretched daubs. No. 669,
"The Christmas Present," is meant for a pheasant, but will do
almost as well for any other thing up to a stack of chimneys;
and of similar stamp is 670, `'A Little Red Riding-hood." 'l'
room was only scantily attended.

RYALL'S CoNcERVATIVE PORTRAITS.—This is truly a na-
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constitution, must feerdee.ply interested. Of the manner in
which these spirited engravings are executed, it is needless to
y much : they display the most exquisite finish, and arc
equally characterised by their astonishing fidelity. We believe
it to be the intention of the publisher to employ a distinguished
artist, for the purpose of taking a fall length portrait of our
worthy representative, Lord Sandon, which will be presented
to the South Lancashire Conservative Association, to be placed
in the hall at Newton. The present series will, we understand,
be followed by another, under the very attractive title of the
"Female Aristocracy of Great Britain," which we have no
doubt; will add to the publisher's celebrity, and, we trust, to
his profits. His expenditure must be very great to produce
such splendid specimens of art; we trust the support he receives
is, in some degree, commensurately great.
CHURCH OF ENGLAND TRAcHERs' SocIRTY.—It will be evi-
dent, from an advertisement which appears in our paper of this
day, that an attempt has been made to deceive the public by
certain individuals connected with the " Liverpool Teacher
Society." These persons put forth a statement to the effect,
that two-thirds of the members of that society were also mem-
bersthe of the established church. So far from this
ibrch,itningem.
case, it now appears that, in fact, there were onlyase
bers out of twenty-two, of which the old society ikvin
who were churchmen. The object in view inatruari
de-
centive statements seems to have been to urge
who had
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Trinitarian society.