270 FINE ARTS. 



subdued, in the one part mentioned, the effect would be more brilliant^ 

 and, perhaps, more true. In the part of the sky to which I advert, the 

 colour approaches too near the look of blue paint, instead of being of a 

 bhieish atmospheric tone, liut, there is so much beauty in the whole, 

 I really feel ashamed of my irish, although I submit it to the better 

 judgment of this skilful painter. It is a very singular circumstance that 

 there is not a figure introduced in the whole picture 1 This is the 

 first work which I have seen from his hand, and the first time I have 

 met with his name ; yet, in practical excellence, his pencil appears to be 

 the unctuous implement of a veteran master ! 



" 327 — Rabbit Shooting," by A, Cooper, R. A. A boy is kneeling at the 

 side of a knoll, holding a net before ihe entrance of a warren, to catch 

 the inmates or prevent their escape by that opening. Two dogs are on 

 the opposite side, barking and endeavouring to frighten the timid game 

 out of their fastness. The sportsman has taken his stand near, on an 

 eminence, with his gun, ready to let fly at them the moment they are 

 started. The two dogs, the sportsman and boy, are correctly drawn, 

 and the former in spirited action. The ground is diversified by up-and- 

 down irregularities and elevations ; and a level glimpse of a dark blueish 

 distance, lying high beyond, carries the eye off to a remote extent. The 

 colour of the near ground is of a sober russet or olive, nearly reduced 

 to a chiaro-scuro. The spot is a homely locality, and there is not the 

 smallest attempt to catch the eye by colour. 



There is not much in the picture, and that is of every-day occurrence. 

 Yet how well that sportsman stands ! with what a look of keen vigilance 

 he is on the watch ! What a hold that little round head and cropped hair 

 of the kneeling boy have on the eye ! How well his action is told without 

 any effort to exceed the reality ! What a charm there is in the simple fidelity 

 with which he is painted ! Every thing here is a plain truth, which tells 

 more to the breast than many a huge canvass covered with a flare of 

 colour and crowds of exaggerated figures, hurrying in confusion. As 

 far as its small size and scanty materials go, this performance may 

 challenge the best of the D.utch or Flemings of the same compass, and 

 limited number of figures. We might get many such to equal, but I 

 rather think it would be very difficult to surpass, it.* 



Oct. 8th, 1834. 



Rousseau and Voltaire. — On the Swiss philosopher shewing the 

 French poet a lyric epistle, addressed to posterity, the latter observed, 

 ** My friend, this letter will never be delivered according to its direction." 

 This piece of raillery Rousseau never forgave. 



John Tradescant was the first individual in this country who formed a 

 museum. Science must, at that period, have been at a very low ebb, for 

 in the " Museum Tradescantinum," a small book, with Hollar's plates, we 

 find, in the collection — " an egg, supposed to have been that of a dragon, 

 and another of the griffin ; two feathers of the tail of the phoinix ; and 

 the claw of the ritck, a bird able to trusse an elephant." 



* The anxiety, with which I look on every effort of the British School as a great 

 national interest, led me further than I, at first, intended, in these critical observa- 

 tions ; and, after I had, on the 8th inst. sent the manuscript to the printing office, 

 and corrected the proofs of that moiety which is printed above, I learned that it 

 filled the number of pages liberally allotted for " the Fine Arts.^' The remainder, 

 therefore, is, necessarily, reserved for insertion in the next number of "The 

 Analyst." W. C. 



