ROYAL ACADEMY. 



Returning from the Haunts of the Sea-fowl Scene on the Coast of France 

 and The Stray Kitten. 



MULREADY has one highly- wrought cabinet picture : the subject is a child 

 sailing over a brook in a tub ; it is called The First Voyage. The father 

 carefully guides the little sailor's quaint bark, and a group of elder brothers 

 and sisters joyfully surrounds him. The figures are beautifully drawn and 

 painted. Scene at the Festa of the Madonna del Arco, P. WILLIAMS. This 

 is one of the most tasteful and elegant cabinet pictures in the rooms : the 

 execution is particularly delicate. Rebecca and Abraham's Servant, W. 

 HILTON, R.A., is a graceful composition ; but it wants novelty of design, 

 and an execution more removed from common-place. WESTALL'S Death of 

 James II. excites attention by its finish and effect, only to disappoint the 

 taste. Nothing positively offends, yet we are glad to forget that we have 

 seen it. 



Rembrandt in his Painting Room, A. FRASER, is painted in the manner of 

 the great Dutch painter as far as fatness of touch, mellow colouring, and 

 luminous effect goes. The head of Rembrandt and the black boy are very 

 powerfully wrought ; the other figures are poorly executed, and insipid 

 in character. The picture altogether is destitute of mind, a qua- 

 lity infinitely more valuable than mere repeated displays of oil and 

 varnish. 



In the School of Painting is an extraordinary work by D. M'CLISE ; the 

 subject is All- Hallow Eve in Ireland. The figures, which are very numerous, 

 consist of the native peasantry of the Emerald Isle, employed in the usual 

 fire-side amusements of All- Hallow Eve. A remarkable degree of vigour is 

 bestowed upon the heads, the characteristics of which are of that peculiar 

 energetic and wild class, which is picturesque at least, though it may lack 

 the attribute of beauty. Among the young females, however, two or three 

 display the utmost loveliness. The principal group in the centre, whereon 

 the greatest breadth of light is cast, is occupied in the humorous pastime of 

 snap- apple : an enormous mouth, containing an enviable set of grinders, 

 prepared for the encounter, is marvellously painted. This picture is so 

 replete with subject and variety of character that it would form an exhibition 

 alone. 



Bribery and Corruption, C. LANDSEER. A beautifully painted little pic- 

 ture, taken from Old Mortality, where the centinel Halliday is yielding to 

 the influence of the golden key applied by Jenny. The colouring is clear, 

 and the drawing masterly. All the accessaries are carefully touched in, and 

 the expression of the countenances is explanatory of the incident. Martha 

 and Mary, C. R. LESLIE, R.A. An engraving in one of the Annuals has 

 made us familiar with this composition, which is tasteful and elegant enough, 

 though not exactly in accordance with the severe style of art the greatest 

 masters have adopted in subjects of this nature. STANFIELD has treated 

 the often repeated scene of Venice from the Dogana with much skill. The 

 effect is delightful. In the anti-room is A Scene on the Coast of France, by the 

 same master, which will amply repay an examination. CONSTABLE'S land- 

 scapes are not altogether satisfactory ; they are painted too sketchy, though 

 always rich and sparkling. WARD has a bold and effective landscape ; it is 

 a view of Beaumont, near Cheshunt, and several other subjects replete with 

 vigour. A Village School, T. WEBSTER, is an entertaining cabinet picture, 

 finely painted, and excellent in its delineation of boyish fun and character. 

 The attention of the pedagogue being absorbed in the contents of a newspa- 

 per, that moment of respite from his vigilance is taken advantage of by 

 some mischievous idle urchins, who are playing at scratch- cradle, while 

 certain truants steal in unobserved. 



The President, Sir M. A. SHEE, exhibits seven portraits, of which that of 

 Sir Thomas Denman is much the best. It is very highly finished, and, to a 



M. M. No. 90. 4 L 



