The Statesman.
London, England, 1819-07-15 00:00:00

SOMICRSBT-IlullsE EXHIBITION.

Politics have of late absorbed a greet part of our
all?ptilin, and considering the disetr-es importance,
the lamentably stateci.ive interest attached to them,
our Readers have, no doubt, conceited with us. as
to the propriety of the cum* pursued, in giving
them prior attention. Mae, sebjema of deep, though
Inferior import. bees gives way to the anted of dia.
tress and it. consequent angry discussion, which the
tempest of introit ha. ocrssinned of bite. At length
the Parliament has retires'. arid left is a respite from
the fatigue and chagrin of tree* their Misdeeds.—
Aad though there 1. nothing ceesoliee, or is say de.
ins satifadery in the present posters of things, es
in the immediate prospect of the fatale, it is bowel
i.e far the mind, sad fat more profitable labour
to our Resilers, to tern from a torte whereon we eon
only dwell, for some usnaths at least,with hopeless in.
actitity, to objects of taste, which are capable of re.
frisking the jedgeseut, while they gratify the Ismael.
Wife. We submit a few strictures on the clorieg
of ow Royal Academy
The Eabihition of the Royal Academy closed last
autarchy. At parting we shall say a few words in
general observation, and we 'Nem oar Readers' at.
testino a short lime upon the beautiful, sod, in a
dee degree, important subject of art.
Wer. we not acqesinted with the averseness le
change for the better, and the obstinate tenacity to
old plena and routine which characterise the Aca-
demicians, it might be hoped that the injedirioes me.
eagernent, indiscriminate arrangement, and general
Miestdities that wore risible at the late Exhibition
would not weigh upon our taste, in heavy and ea.
happy repetition at the next e. Maeuged as it is
and has been (or many years past, the Academy in its
Eahibitioe is the rein of all wend art. This oilmen.
•ion applies airier to the Academy; we neither erm-
ines, the other Eshibitinee of Paintings in the Me.
4npnlir, nor Exhibitions in general ; het it it pre.
judicial to the interests of SOOND ACT for an F;.
Sit4llo4 to be conducted an the Somerset-house prin-
ciple, or perhaps it would be more correct to sat,
bossed op without any principle at all. The Pictures
are plemol together in a anmetimea cruel heterogeneity
of situation, and crowded Hite sheep at a market.—
They are often placed beyond the reach of either
praise or censer*, because they am withoet the
bounds of perception, a tree epitome of the world.
were merit is too frequently placed in such nb.
scerity that much trouble is iscessioned Were it can
be found and appreciated. This is not the only
fault of this Eahibitioo ; bet so much hes been said
epos the subject already, that although we might
write worry celestial, in a statement of censures. reit.
sous, coneidions, end suggestions, we should write
!title that would be either Dowel er interesting—and
we bad rasher that this brief disapprobation should at
prompt solace, us a general blot to the Academicians
(thiegh we far Hier wawillingness to profit by hints);
let es not part altogether in anger ; there is an se
mint deo to the other side of the argument, and we
would willingly proceed in a pleasanter vein.
Although the greater proportion of the pictures
were of very Wean, qealificationa.and of a rha.
meter at which a pure taste would revolt, there wore
some that the country may he proud of, as rivalling
in conception, in nature, end impression, many of
the finest works .f the old mesten—pictures 1t,.,
will long be locked in our memories, yes, es tong as
oer hearts can beat, our feeling, sympathise, and our
minds thrill in sentiment. Such ern ALLSTON'S
Jacob's Dream, from which we vivid more treaty
fumy strain of music to proceed, than haus the
rAlehrated Egyptian Memnon; CO PER'S VerSSOR-
MOOT, 11110141 rash .'s hstile swear through It. anal
like a torrent; '.nut's Sir Roger de Coverks.
with so itinoig an i. a .wen's stealing over the Wirt
and mind as to nowise the one late lender worms.
'belie emotion, the or. hi.r into warm congratulating
praise; %Yuma's Scads Skidding. a beset:fel and
faithfel Mite of simple nature; stud Tunisia's Rol
tsvnet J the Nesse, MI of that strange mightiness I
that is so parrot,: the qpncomitsnt of high roils;