British Institution, Pall...
The Times, 1824-06-03T00:00:00

The usual annual exhibition of works by deceased artists is now open at this isistitution, aud cons-sts principally of pictures by the old Italian, Spanish, and Flemish painters, with the addition of se- veral of a more modern date, most of vrhich are of the English school. The collection appears to beless numerous than usual, but this we are not surptised at: the only wonder in, that the ditectors should be able to go on year after year fdrtishlng as thev do a fresh supply of food for the increasing appetite for works of art. It is evident, however, that they find it more difficult to procure speci- mens of excellence than of novelty, and, smaU as the collection is, we would rather see it reduced to ode.third of its extent than made up as it is in a great measure of works which can neither be profitable to the arts nor creditable to the artists whose names they bear. We are satisfied there are mally works in this and other galleries which were never evdn seen by the great mastefs to whom they are attributed. Yet the Directors of the British Insti- tution ahould be extremely careful to exclude all such productions froin their walls, lest among ignorant observers they eive sanction to error, and tendto peiVert Ihe taiste even of better qua1ified judges. The finest picture in'tle collection, or at least that which most arrests the attention, and will dvrell longest on the memory, is a Rembrandt, coitributed by Sir Thomas Imwrence. The subject is Joseph accuecd by Poliphar's CZfe; it is admirable for its rich har- mony of effect, and for all the other fine qualties whlch distitiguish the productions ofRembrandt, but for bothiob more thda for its truth of expression.a department of art in which that celebrated painter is generally very successful, however deficient he may be in regard to propriety of form and character. A small picture of the Graces, by Raphael, also the propery of Sir Thomas Lawrence, is a beautiful specimen of elegance and simplicity of contour. Salvator Rosa's portrait of himself, contributed by Lady de Cliffbrd, is not oneof theleast interestingpicttres in the galley it possesses precise- ly that wild enthusiastic expressifn whicf e should expect te find in so singular a genius. There are no very good portraits by Vain- dyke; the best is the Duchess of Hamilton, contributed by Lord Denbigh. The portrait of a Mfan Wit/ a Hawk, b,v Rubens, the propertv ot' His Majesty is a powerful and effective picture. There are two or three beautif ittle cabinetspecimens of the Fiemish painter8, and a few of Sir Joabtia Reynofds, Hogarth, atid dthers of the English school, which suffer nothing by their vicinity to the works of the old masters, The BalkS-:inger, by Hogartn, the Property of Mr. Dent, is a ttuly admirable sketch, and should have been hung in a situation better calculated to display its merits. On the whole, the present collection is one fronr whicb the amateur asid theartist may glean much that ig worthy of attention and admira- tion, while they cannot but regret that so many works should be brought forward to the prejudice of the pubEc taste, merely on ac- count of the names which are attributed to them, and not from any real merit of their own. BRITISU INSTITUTION. PALL-MALL.