themselves to it. Whether the places of Reynolds and Gainsborough are yet filled again, it would be useless to enquire. No. 3. Mrs. Huntley and Daughter. PHILIPS. We have not forgot the simplicity of style which was deserving of praise in Mr. P.'s pictures of last year, and those of the present one afford strong ground to conclude that it is by adhering vigilantly to this point, he is likely to support his pretensions among his numerous competitors. The present picture is of this class, natural and simple in colour and expression. Lord Thurlow's portrait is of the same rank. No. 5. Lady Templetown. LAWRENCE, R. A. A highly successful picture of a beautiful woman. It possesses very eminent beauties of softness, clear and simple colour, natural grace, and bright effect. It is seldom that the study of a man's own works has been considered of use to him ; yet we could scarcely wish to offer Mr. L. a better object of contemplation and comparison with his other pictures. It is not, however, meant to insinuate that those are without merit: but they yield the palm to the one before us. There are several very characteristic heads by the same painter, of great force of execution; amongst which that of Mr. Erskine stands pre-eminent. No. 14. Portrait of a Young Lady. HOWARD, A. A graceful design and figure, with a pleasing effect of light and shade. No. 220* possesses merit of design and composition. It were to be wished that the colours had been more harmoniously disposed. No. 16. Portraits of two Children. HALLS. Well painted heads, with strength of character. No. 29. Portrait of Baron Williams, Colonel in the Service of Austria. THOMSON, A. The figure well drawn, and the whole attentively studied. The attitude has much spirit, and the general effect is respectable. No. 33. Hon. Lady A. Hudson and Child. SINGLETON. Possesses softness and bright colours, and is of a polished execution; such as appears peculiarly proper to the nature of the subject and the size of the picture. The portrait of Mr. H. Johnston deserves praise of the same kind. * Portrait of a Lady and Children. No. 46. A Portrait. EDWARDS, A. Remarkable for lightness of penciling, and the clearness of its tints. No. 61. Portrait of H. R. H. the Duke of Cumberland. BEZCHEY, R. A. Is the best of Sir W. B.'s whole lengths of this year. The figure, particularly the upper part, is well drawn; the attitude easy and spirited, and the head well coloured. The portrait heads by this artist, in the present exhibition, hold a high rank. They are rich in colour and general effect, and painted with great power of pencil. These remarks may be applied to them in general, un less it should be thought that No. 274* reminds us too much of the manner of the late president. No. 101 has a masterly expression of character. No. 68. Portrait of a Lady. NORTHCOTE, R. A. A very pretty girl, with lively arch expression, to which the attitude is happily suited. The picture is of a low, quiet tint. The Lady crossing the Alps is the most eminent work of this artist in the present exhibition. It appears designed to unite the decorations of historic fancy with the natural attractions of portrait, and raises an interest, not unlike to that of a novel, for the person represented. The figure of the lady is disposed with much skill and happiness. The face is an animated representation of a lively and beautiful woman; and, if we are not mistaken in our conjecture, the same as in the foregoing picture. The mule is painted with the usual excellence of the artist in this department, and the general effect and brightness of harmonious colour, is not exceeded by any of his former works. The portrait of an Admiral is a picture singularly characteristic, and the clear and forcible colour of No. 481† is worthy the high credit of the artist's pencil. Two female portraits by this artist, No. 166 and 249, are painted with great chasteness of style, and are of that pearly colour, by which the modest loveliness of nature is always best expressed. There is something remarkably interesting in the character of the former. No. 78. Portrait of Miss Alderson. OPI, R. A. No artist more exhibits the fascination of beauty than Mr. O. The picture before us is an instance of an almost luxurious softness * Mr. Watts, Portrait of a Gentleman. and expression. But it is the undesigning luxury, softness, and expression of nature. The head of Lavinia is equally attractive, but with charms of more sedate and pensive character. No. 116* exhibits a bold simplicity of design and colour, in the most masterly manner. No. 95. Portrait of Earl Spencer. SHEE, R. A. 167+ is Mr. Shee's portraits are in his usual forcible style. The present possesses remarkable decision of character and colour. painted with equal strength of effect, and a more studied softness, than is always attained by the artist. No. 194. Portrait of Capt. J. R. Johnston, of the Bengal Native Infantry. ASHBY. A singular aim at effect of colour. No. 202. Portrait of Lord Bruce. WOODFORDE, A. Like all the other portraits by Mr. W. shews a strict attention to nature. No. 207. Portraits of Mrs. Wilson and Miss Mein. OWEN. Has richness of colour, but wants clearness and simplicity. The artist is capable of both. No. 175, by this artist, is one of the finest portraits in the Exhibition, and a most spirited and characteristic likeness of Mr. Townley, of Doctors' Commons. No. 226. Portrait of a Lady of Quality. JOSEPH. Aims at lively expression and clear colour. A more calm hue of nature would render the general effect more satisfactory to the eye. No. 236. Portraits of two young Ladies. REYNOLDS. Like all the other works of this singular artist, shews great originality of conception and power of effect. The heads very well painted. No. 246. Portrait of a Lady. PELLEGRINI. Of clear colour, and simply attentive to nature. The best of Mr. P.'s portraits. No. 258. Portrait of the late G. Wakefield, B.A. ARTAUD. A well-studied head. No. 269. Portrait of Dr. Rutherford, Professor of Botany, &c. Strong and clear. RAEBURN. * Portrait of J. Harvey, Esq. Captain of the Norwich Volunteer Cavalry. The Misses Dillon. No. 273. Portraits of Mr. G. R. Miss Caroline, and Master W. G. Chinnery. CHINNERY. Shews much study of effect and colour; but the latter abounds with artificial hues, which diminish the value of its own force. No. 362. Portrait of a Lady. Downman, A. A pleasing head, of very clear colouring. No. 385. Portraits of two Ladies. In crayons, with the usual abilities of the artist. No. 394. Portrait of Mr. Thomson, Animal and Bird Preserver to the Leverian and British Museum. REINAGLE, A. A design remarkable for simplicity. The head is painted with great force. In 520,* though varied in size, the execution has the same kind of merit. No. 610. Portrait of W. Garrow, Esq. DEVIS. No. 670. Portraits of nine Theatrical Characters, viz. Mr. H. The editors of a publication particularly devoted to the drama, should not omit particular mention of Mr. W's characteristic portraits of theatrical heroes and heroines. Those which he has this year exhibited will deservedly continue to him the reputation he has long possessed. Lady Clavering. RACINE, AND THE SENIOR BACHELORS OF CAMBRIDGE. 1 [Concluded from page 244, of our last.] THE progress of the human mind is slow, for the reason that, before we find the only path that leads to perfection, we are misled by numerous ways, whose terminations are of a very opposite description. We go far in the search of beauty, not perceiving that it is before our eyes, because it is but the imitation of nature. Our forefathers erected lofty buildings, the astonishing boldness of which appeared R RVOL. XV. to them in the light of the most admirable beauty; but we despised this style of architecture, the instant we felt that it was contrary to the simplicity of nature. The same fate has attended poetry, painting, and every art, whose object is imitation. Our ancient dramatists had not the least idea of this imitation, and knew not that they ought to give their action the appearance of truth. They were even. ignorant of the necessity of opening the plot and exposing the subject of the piece. A tragedy of Rotrou begins with this verse: Seigneur, de par le roi, j'arrête votre altesse. Here the spectator at once saw a prince arrested by the order of the king, without knowing who was the king, who the prince, or why he was arrested. When Corneille commenced his career, he was himself unacquainted with the rules of dramatic poetry. Reflection forced them on his attention, and he seized the right. The success of one man who pursues the true path, induces others to follow him, even such as labour in a different kind of occupation, because, as they all work from the same model, which is nature, they serve as an example to each other, join hands, and perfect themselves by mutual assistance. Descartes is one who bore the torch, and threw a light on all the sciences-he was amongst us what Socrates said he was at Athens-the midwife of the mind. He led us on by shewing us the just mode of reasoning-the national powers became more perfect, and with them all the fine arts, and when the labours of the mind acquire perfection, the language in which they are composed partakes also of the beneficial effect. This is, in my opinion, the cause of great men being nearly all cotemporary; this, the cause of their emulation and their progress:let us now look for the cause of the fatal revolution. When rare geniusses, the happy imitators of nature, have for a time attracted the public admiration, those who succeed them, wishing to make themselves admired also, aspire soon to excite a greater portion of admiration; and, filled with this ambition, they neglect the footsteps of their predecessors, and seek to open a new track for themselves. The desire of going beyond those they would rival, carries them too far; and, disdaining simple and natural beauties, they endeavour to dazzle by such as are produced by the worthless tinsel of tasteless artifice. Hence arises the love of frivolous ornaments, glittering thoughts, and those affected airs which destroy all taste for the modest graces of nature, as the best viands, though replete with salutary nourishment, seem insipid to those who have accustomed themselves to highly seasoned ragouts, which irritate and 1 |