Glasgow Courier. — 1857-02-24 (Glasgow, Strathclyde, Scotland)

ACADEMY.  The thirty-first annual exhibition of this Academy opened on Saturday in the National Galleries, Edinburgh. As usual on an opening day, the rooms were thronged to inconvenience, and it was almost impossibl° to get a close view of the principal pictures. As far, however, as a general glance at the contents of the galleries could give on idea of their value, it may he confidently affirmed that the present is one of the most successful exhibitions that has ever taken place in connection with the academy. The old hands keep their ground, while there is a perceptible Improvement in the style of the young aspirants, which gives good promise for the future. A prominent attraction this year to the walls consists in four principal works from as ninny of modern French masters—Delaroche, logres, De • lacroix, and HoraoeVernet—which have been generously forwarded from the Imperial Galleries at Paris by the French Emperor. Of these the palm must be awarded to the painting by Delaroche, representing the Pe inces in the Tower before their murder, which is a striking embodiment of this episode in the history of Richard 111. The academicians contribute a number of important works—the principal being two Scriptural subjects from the Brothers Lauder a figure picture, by Harvey, of Bunyan in Bedford jail; a small work by Noel Piltoll, and one or two first-class landscapes front the easels of Horatio Maculloch, D. 0. Hill, and C. 'l'. Crawford. In portraiture the galleries are very rich. The chief contributors to this department are Sir John Watson Gordon, Graham Gilbert, Colvin Smith, Daniel Macnee, and others. Mr. S. Bough exhibits a very striking view of the Port of London, with its forests of masts, murky atmosphere, and its unceasing activity. It has already found a purchaser in the Association. Among other conspicuous paintings is one which, front its garish colouring, and bold effects, is certain to provoke a good deal of not very favourable criticism. The painter, Mrs. H. Blackburn, entitles it' The Defenders of Glasgow,' and under this appellation represents one of the crack engines of the Glasgow Fire Brigade careering along Ingram Street, on its way to the conflagration which the reddened sky proclaims to be raging in the distance. Whatever be the violation of strict artistic rules in this work, it must be admitted to be a very powerful delineation; the pair of grays harnessed to the engine are admirably drawn, and full of action; as is also the brown cart horse, which is being put to its mettle by the driver, who seems determined to earn his extra fee by being first at the fire. Mr. Milne Donald, a Glasgow artist, whoae pictures are yearly becoming more aught after, exhibits one landscape—a View of Arran front the Cumbraes—which has some fine points in it. Mr. Waller Paton is a copious exhibitor. His most remarkable picture is a View of the Railaay Bridge over Pais'ey. The effect of light and shade is very striking, Mr. John Cairns, Glasgow, has one or two good landscapes, which bear evidence of careful study, and a close observance of nature The best contribution to the sculpture room is from Mr. Calder Marshall, whose ' Mother's Prayer' is a beautifully worked-out idea. A few good busts of wellknown men are exhibited by Mr. J. Steel, Mr. 11. Ritchie, and Mr. W. Brodie.—llerald.