The Liverpool Standard and General Commercial Advertiser.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1842-07-26 00:00:00

THE MECHANICS' INSTITUTION

The exhibition at this institution is about to be brought to
a close. Every exertion has been made to render it attractive
and amusing to the crowds of visitors that are daily to be
found congregating in the rooms.
“On Friday and Saturday,
Mr. J. Russell wave some
of his Sketches on Character.'
g
On both occasions the theatre was crowded to excess ; we
never saw such a number of merry faces as were exhibited
anecdotes while listening to the amusing narrated by the
lecturer. It really
was quite a curious sight to witness so
many rows of persons all with visages on the broad grin ;
the building shook with the loud laughter continually in-
dulged in. Mr. Russell's songs gave _ great delight. The
admirable song of the
~ widdy Malone" was enthusiastically
encored. We understand that the air is Mr. Russell's com-
position, and in which he has proved that a beautiful melody
may be combined with a highly humorous subject. The
tht!t they were too short. Mr.
'
John Davies very ably accomP
audience, one and all. were delighted with the sketches, and
anled on the piano-forte.
the Only matter of regret was,

THE TAPESTRY ROOM,
Amongst the many articles that have attracted our atten-
tion in passing through the rooms, we were especially
attracted by the tapestry, and the very beautiful carpets
amongst them. We observed some splendid carpets of
Whytock's manufacture, deposited by Mr. Urquhart, which
show what an advance has been made in this department of

These carpets,

both foi cOlour

the manufacture of our eanntry,
opinion, far excel those of famed Turk
texture, pile, and substance.
The origin of tapestry is almost, indeed, we may say qui,
buried in obscurity. There is no question that the Egyptian,
were well acquainted with it, and, in all probability, imparter
their knowledge to the Hebrews. We find it stated in
Exodus, " Every wise-hearted man among them that
wrought the work of the Tabernacle, made ten curtains of
fine twined linen, and blue and purple and scarlet, with
cherubim of cunning work." It is further mentioned, that
gold and silver were beaten into thin plates, and cut into
wires, and worked into the " fine linen and cunning work."
The idolatrous Jewish women are stated to have been em-
ployed in working hangings for the grove. Plautus, Lucre-
tius, Pliny, and other ancient authors, mention in their
works, that Babylon was celebrated "for the pictures woven
together in various splendid colours. Dresses of the
ancirnts also were decorated with designs; for we find
Eneas giving a robe to Cloanthus, on which the story
of Ganymede was represented. In the time of Solomon,
and indeed at various periods mentioned in the sacred
writings, we find the women employed in constructing
tapestry. Ovid tells us of Arachne, the daughter of
Idinon, the dyer of Colophon, who was extremely expert
with her needle. She is spoken of as challenging Minerva
to a contest ; the goddess, however, being a better server,
reaped the victory, whereupon Arachne banged herself, and
was changed into a spider. The subjects of her work are
said to have been, the loves of Jupiter with Europa, Leda,
Antiope, Asteria, Dance, and Alcmena. Homer and Ovid
tell us of Penelope, the wife-of Ulysses, being greatly skilled
in the art of embroidery.- To put off her suitors during her
husband's absence at the Trojan war, she wove and unwove
a piece of tapestry day by day, promising to decide upon one
of them when it was finished. The Normans were well ac-
quainted with the art of embroidery, for we find mention
made in their time of several fine specimens. There is some
beautiful tapestry still kept in the Cathedral of Bayeux, which
is supposed to have originated with them. In a Saxon poem,
entitled " Beowulf," we find mention made of " the web on
the walls." Many of the Saxon writers notice the tapes-
tries in the houses of their wealthy countrymen. During
the time of Henry the Eighth it was greatly in vogue in this
country. In many of our cathedrals and churches are spe-
cimens of tapestry, of a very beautiful description. In
Chester Cathedral there is a fine specimen, said to have
been worked by the nuns of St. Werburgh : this must be at
least 800 years old. If our time and space would permit,
we might, no doubt, bring forward many interesting particu-
lars of this art.. In the room we have alluded to, some very
beautiful specimens, executed by Miss Lucas, of Bold-
street, will be greatly admired.