The central Presbyterian. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1856-1908, 1857-12-12

end of the room is full length portrait cf
the Empress Eugene, by Dubufe' pupil OF
Paul Delaroche, and if it is faithful, and
does her justice, she is certainly not as
pretty as travellers and Frenchmen repre-
sent her. There is one picture in the col
lection by Horace Vernet, who received the
GREAT medal of honor at the Universal Ex-
hibition, at Paris, in 1855. There is another'
small in size, entitled the "Chess Players,
representing two men seated at a large ta-
bic, one of whom has just checkmated his
antagonist, and looking at him with an air
of triumph, expressed not only in MS face,
but in his whole attitude; while the ether
sits with his head resting on his hand, with /
countenance expressive Of the most IN
tense thought. This is the gem Of the col
lection. A Richmond friend who accompa-
MED me to'the gallery, was so much pleased
with the painting, that he concluded it'
would be Il pretty thing to purchase and
carry home to hang up in his parlor or cham
DER; but on enquiring the price, and learn
ING that it was S4,OOO-he declined the
purchase-for the present at least.
There is in another part Of the city, RI
val collection-the British Gallery of Art,
containing a large number of the prOduc-
tons of modern painters. Among the most
eminent Of these are Turner and Ruskin.
was greatly disappointed with both. Turner's
landscapes are indistinct and Ruskin's So
Ttary piece conveyed no meaning. But
from artists less known, there are pictures
of decided merit, to inspect any one Of
which for ten minutes will repay for a long
walk and the trihing admission fee. nthis
gallery, we know not why, is Miss Hosmer's
IAN American,) marble statue of the sleep
inc Beatrice Cenci-not great as a sculp-
ture, but very meritorious and pleasing.
The most interesting painting now on ex-
hibition in New York is the "Horse Fair, y
by Miss Rosa Bonheur, exhibited at Viii
liams' and Stevens, on Broadway. 1t is q
strange subject for a young lady painter
horses,--not trim racers, or 1.-THE and ele-
T CANT Arabians, but (great draft horses, hinge
5 fiery, muscular) and yet she has succeeded
exceIed, and probably made the finest pic,
ture of the kind in the world. Still We
would wonder at Miss Rosa's equine taste
= had we not seen her portrait; and if the
y ''strong-minded" was ever apparent in
face, it is there A moments look at he,
portrait will convince one that Miss Rosi
: could rule husband, paint Il horse, or /
hurricane, with equal ease.
/ But one of the very finest collections o
e pictures in New York is to be found in the
s'Brian Gallery" Mr.. Brian is a gentle
IS man who inherited large fortune, and who
II in early life went abroad, and resided on the
Il Continent, we know not how many years
Is To collect pictures by the old masters be-
+ came his passion, and to this pursuit he de-
$ voted his time and ample fortune. The re-
I suit is a gallery which illustrates the history
u of painting, in chronological order from
Guido De Seinre, A. D. 1921, to Horace
Vernet of our own times. If any wants t.
I see originals by the old Masters-Rem
brandt, Salvador Rosa, ReubehS, Murillo
: Raphael, Georgione, Yandyke, he can fine
them in the Brian Gallery, and no where
1 else in this country. AS he passes from
room to room, he may perhaps observe t
somewhat elderly gentleman, with a white
beard and mustache, contemplating the pic,
lures, and now and then giving quaint ant
witty answer to the query of some visitor
This is Mr.. Brian, who lives in the same
e building with his collection, and who spend;
? his time among his pictures, surrounded by
his art treasures, happy in their contempla-
ton, and caring little whether his visitors
are many or few; as his gallery is not exhi-
, bited for the sake of profit.
New York has not only been favored dur
ING the present season with numerous pic
ture galleries, but with an unusual number
of fine singers.
attended the last of the matinee con-
certs for the season. 1t was held in the
Academy of Music, and commenced at two
O'Clock, p. NJ, which is morning of course,
as it is long before dinner. The building
called the Academy of Music, is a superb
structure, and with its two story gallery,
amphi-theatre, and parquette, holds more
than 5000 people. On the day when was
present it was crorcdcd with fashionable
audience, and no one who looked upon that
brilliant throng, where laces, jewels and
costly furs were displayed in prodigal pro-
fusion, would have imagined that such a
thing as money pressure had been known
in New York during the present generation,
During this matinee had the pleasure Of
hearing Vieutemps, the great yiOlinist, per-
form PagininTs Carnival of Venice, to-
gether with Nine. La Grange, Signori La
bocetti, and Nine. D'Angri, in song. On
another occasion l heard Thalberg, the
great pianist. The. first piece he played
was one which displayed only skill in execu-
ton; vastly pleasing to those who affect
passionate love for scientific music-and to
none others; but when he gave us the va