The Sun. — 1844-06-10 (London, England)

FINE ARTS. BRITISH INSTITUTION.  We attended on Saturday a private view of this Exhibition, which is opened to the public to-day. The pictures are, for the most part, the productions of the old masters of the Spanish, Flemish, Dutch, and French schools, and though not quite so numerous as usual, are remarkably well selected, making up in quality for what they want in quantity. There are some fine specimens of Canaletti, and one or two first-rate Ruysdaels, to say nothing of some landscapes by Wouvermans, executed in the most carefully finished manner of that great artist. Hawking -Party in a Landscape, in particular, is the  est _striking.production of his pencil we have ever seen, and the colouring is in excellent preservation, being as fresh as if it had been painted only a few years since. The spacious foreground, which is covered with gracefully disposed groupes of sportsmen, displays infinite skill of management, and nothing can surpass the ease and propriety with which a very difficult perspective is handled. The picture is full of life and bustle, and of the most cheerful character possible. Head of a Rabbi exhibits much of that impressive expression and depth of shadow for which Rembrandt is so remarkable• The Discovery of Calisto is one of Titian's splendid pieces of colouring ; the flesh tints of the female figures are exquisitely true to life, and the attitudes full of grace and ease. Cleopatra is by Sebastian del Piombo. The countenance of the Egyptian Queen realises all one's conceptions of her voluptuous beauty, but there i 3 rather more of the blonde than the brunette about it. Return from the Chase is another of Wouvermans' lively and spirited productions; the canvass is well filled, without being crowded. Landscape by Ruysdael is painted with matchless truth and vigour. The still sheet of water in front, overhung by tall, umbrageous trees, shows aome wonderful effects of light and shade ; and the rough, knotted bark of the beeches to the right of the spectator prove with what singular minuteness and fidelity this observant artist copied nature. Head of our Saviour possesses all that divine repose and .beauty of expression which Guido knew so well how to impart to his sacred portraits. The Sybir s Temple, Tivoli, is one of Salvator Rosa's picturesque and ro• mantic productions. The entire foreground is very finely executed. The Marriage of the Doge of Venice is a very gorgeous picture, painted in Canaletti's most careful style. The Last Supper is by no means a first-rate work of art. The best portion of it—at least the most expressive—is the face and figure of the traitor, Judas. Portrait of the Cardinal Übaldini, by Guido is richly, but chastely, coloured, and is full  The King of the French on Thursday, accompanied by Generals Athalin and De Rumigny, went to Versailles, after stopping about an hour at the Palace of Saint Cloud. His Majesty did not return to Neuilly till eight o'clock. In the evening their Majesties received the Austrian and Belgian Ambassadors, the Wurtemberg Minister, Marshal Valle, Counts De Breteuil, De Mornay, and De Montesquiou, Baron d'Effaudis, Generals Hecquet and De Mornay, and M. Terme, Deputy. General Prim (Count de Reuss) arrived at Bordeaux from Spain on Tuesday last, on his way to Paris and London. He is said to have received leave of absence for four months. The Frankfort Journal states that, according to letters from Constantinople of the 15th ult., the Porte has adopted the preliminaries of a new convention with Persia, through the mediation of England and France. Several artists are reported to have quitted Paris on a mission to Africa, for the removal of the Roman triumphal arch of Djonisah. It is said that it is to be placed in the middle of the Place du Carrousel. M. Cuvier, engineer of the Ponts et Chausales, in the department of the Allier, the nephew of the great naturalist, has just put an end to hie life, by means of lighted charcoal. A letter from Montlucon, of the 3d inst., which narrates this melancholy event, states that he had intended to effect his death a week before, but had been prevented by various circumstances. He was a well conducted young man, and fond of his profession. He had left the Polytechnic School the 12th, and entered the Ponts et Chaussees in consequence, with great eclat. The cause of his suicide is supposed to he an insurmountable disgust of life. The French dramatic critics of the classic school have just had a signal triumph, in the complete success of Sophocles' tragedy of Antigone, or, rather, of a literal translation, represented at the theatre of the Odeon ; the celebrated actor, Bocage, played the part of Creon. The preliminary examinations into the revolting affair of the association in the rue du Pot-de-I'er Saint Marcel, which has been marked with the name of the Affaire de la Tour de Nesle, have at length been gone through. Eight of the par. ties are to be tried before the Court of Assizes, and seven before the Tribunal of Correctional Police, which last will be brought up on Wednesday next. The rest of the persons arrested have been discharged for want of sufficient evidence against them. _  —A letter from Rome, of the 25th ult., says :—" The courtmartial called on the 26th of August last, to sit at Bologna, has passed judgment on the persons engaged in the revolt of the Bth September last, against their Sovereign and their Government. Three are condemned to the galleys for life; fire to the same punishment for twenty years; twenty-nine for fifteen years ; one for ten years ; and three to imprisonment for three years. The property of the whole forty-one was confiscated, but the Pope has been pleased to remit this part of the sentence. The Reforme states, that all the Parisian citadels are at present guarded by military, and their entrance forbidden t• any person not furnished with a ticket of admission. Towards the close of the present summer all the detached forts will have been completed with the exception of some barracks intended for the military. Baroness Pasquier, wife of the Chancellor of France, died at Paris, on Wednesday, in the 83d year of her age. Mr. Billie, the composer, received, by order of the King of the French, on Thursday last, the great gold medal, bearing his Majesty's effigy, accompanied by a highly complimentary letter from Baron Pain, the King's private secretary.