112 CORRESPONDENCE. 



To the Editor of The Analyst. 

 Sir, 



There is no mistake more common, in forming a judgment of 

 fine ideal works of art, than that of approving or censuring those 

 performances according to rules which the critics have derived from 

 authority and ])recedent. 



A disposition thus to see hy the help of other persons' eyes, ap- 

 pears to me strikingly illustrated, in a long article in your last 

 Number,* in which, after a series of observations upon various mat- 

 ters connected with the arts, somewhat loosely connected, the au- 

 thor proceeds to claim for clever painters a " licence" to introduce 

 itito their groups — their " fine ideal works of art" — ^pleasing figures 

 — young and handsome girls especially — whether they be germane 

 to the matter, or no. 



The instance selected, is the splendid picture by Mc'Clise — " The 

 Installation of Captain Kock," — exhibited last year ; and as certain 

 critics were tempted to question the fitness of some of the groups in 

 this remarkable composition, their remarks are, at once, by an inge- 

 nious use of the figure " petitio principii" designated as '^ inconsi- 

 derate." 



Mr. Carey observes, " I will exemplify it Qthe alleged painter's 

 licence] by a censure passed on some parts of Mc'Clise's wonderful 

 painting ' The Installation,' &c. An objection has been particu- 

 larly made to the introduction of the bevy of very handsome girls 

 on the right of the canvas. Their youthful forms and playful viva- 

 city are, in the principal censor's judgment, improprieties j and where 

 beauty is displeasing, it is not unreasonable to suppose that home- 

 lines would be welcome."t How could Mr. Carey write the above 

 sentence without discovering the error of using two words broatlly 

 distinct in th^ir etymology and in their common acceptation, like 

 *' improper" and " displeasing," as synonyms and convertible terms \ 



Mr. Carey does not afford any clue, by quotation or reference, to 

 the whereabouts of the censor whom he designates as " principal" 

 and * inconsiderate,'* but the turn and tendency of the critique 

 may be conceived; and the following extract from The Birmingham 

 Journal oi November last, if not the article referred to, must closely 

 resemble it in the nature of the objections adduced ; — '' JMr. McClisc, 

 in his description, declares that ' the numerous persons introduced, 



^ " Cursory Observations on Certain Inconsiderate Ciiticisms, respecting 

 Painting and Sculpture, by William Carey." — Analyst, voL iii., p. 230. 

 t Analyst^ p. 240. 



