The Sun. — 1847-05-24 (London, England)

FINE ARTS.  MR. SCRYAIGEOUR'S GREAT PICTURE OF  MACBETH.  There is at present in the studio of Mr. Scrymgeour, in Tavistock-street, Covent-garden, a picture of " Macbeth's Feast," which is of the highest order of art. The artist has taken as his point of time for illustration, the moment at which Lady Macbeth, rising from her throne, hurriedly dismisses the guests with the order—  " Stand not upon the order of your going, But go at once." The figure of Lady Macbeth is noble and commanding, and the light falls upon her, as standing up, she motions the guests away. At the left of the picture in the foreground, stands Macbeth, distraught by the vision of the murdered Banquo. The appearance of the vision is most artistically managed. At the extreme left of the picture there appear looming, as it were, out of the deep shadow, and appearing gigantic from their very indistinctness, the forms of Banquo and the Weird Sisters. The expression and attitude of Macbeth is quite sublime, every fibre seems tense with mental agony. The grouping of the guests and of the attendants is admirable ; and in the gallery are the minstrels lighted by torches, and here Mr. Scrymgeour has introduced some,very fine effects of cross lights. The principal light of the picture is from a lamp in the centre of the gallery, before which hangs a banner hiding it from the view of the spectators, and the effect thus produced is quite Rembrandtesque. This picture considered as a work of art is of the highest order of historical painting. It is not a mere reflex of a scene acted on the stage; it is historical in the strictest sense of the term, and is destined to perpetuate the fame of the artist. In the same studio there is a small picture ll • illustrating a passage in the life of Burns, which is a little gem. Our readers no doubt remember the circumstances under which Burns composed his soulinspiring lyric, " Scots wha h 'e., It was during a thunder-storm, when he was returning home on horseback at night, over the field of Bannockburn, accompanied by a friend—if we recollect aright, by Dr. Currie. The storm burst with intense fury, upon the wayfarers, but Burns was insensible to the flashing of the lightning, the pealing of the thunder, the howling of the tempest, and the pelting of the pitiless storm—he was charging the English on the plains of Bannockburn. His friend watched him in astonishment in this his moment of inspiration, and , at length the voice of Burns was heard giving utterance  to the first verseof the not:lest patriotic lyric that ever proceeded from the lips of mortal man. This is the scene which Mr. Scrymgeour has undertaken toillustrate. The figure of Burns is the very beau ideal of an inspired poet, and is, as to form and feature, an excellent portrait. The poet, of course, stands boldly out in the foreground, while the dark and dismal heath, and the various effects of light and shade produced by the storm form accessories that greatly enhances the pictorial effect. We are glad to find Mr. Scrymgeour once again in the field. We remember some promising pictures of hif in the exhibition some seven years ago, since whiclt time we have lost sight of him. He has, however, judging from these two pictures, been working hard in the interim. They more than fulfil the promise of his earlier productions.