1823.] [ 439 ] 



PROCEEDINGS OF PUBLIC SOCIETIES. 



THE ROYAL ACADEMY. 



THE present Exhibition at the 

 Royal Academy is by no means 

 so good as wc were led to expect from 

 the injudicious panegyrics whicli anti- 

 cipated its opening. Any one, ac- 

 quainted with former exliibitions, and 

 who has heard of tlie 260 pictures, 

 which, although accepted on account 

 of their merit, were afterwards re- 

 jected from the redundancy of fine worlis, 

 must feel astounded, during his first 

 Malk round the rooms, to stc so many 

 indifferent pictures occu|)ying the best 

 places, whilst others ot a very high 

 order of excellence, are thrust into 

 situations which reflect the most inde- 

 lible disgrace on the council. It is 

 indeed a matter of much surprise to us 

 tiiat the artists out of the academy, 

 painters, sculptors, architects, and en- 

 gravers, have not united their efl'orts 

 to form an exhibition for the sale of 

 their works during the season, when 

 the rank and optikucc of the conntry 

 visit the metropolis. The lloyal 

 Academy of iiself has lung been insuf- 

 ficient to meet the advancing state of 

 the arts, and the British Institution is 

 otherwise engaged than in giving the 

 rising artist an opportunity of exhibi- 

 ting and disposing of his works at the 

 only likely period. More connnodious 

 rooms are indispensable to meet these 

 exigencies. A determined union 

 among the professors of art, and a 

 lively appeal to its patrons, cannot fail 

 to be successful. ">• 



Hilton's Lady and C'omus is by no 

 means Cfjual to many of his former 

 works, such as his " Una with tiic 

 Satyrs," " Nature blowing Bubbles," 

 and the picture in Sir .Joiin Leicester's 

 gallery. The lady herself is far from 

 beautiful, and the body of Coinus is as 

 inflexible as stone. Wilkie's Parish 

 Jieadle is black and disagreeable in 

 colour: the character uf the beadle is, 

 however, lindy cxpnsscd, full of tlie 

 dignity of his important (il!i(^e ; and \\u' 

 story is well, if not very richly, told. 

 We do not consider it one ol' NVilkie's 

 happiest eflorls. His portrait of the 

 Diiki: iif York is nior(! transparent, 

 lliongh the head wants dignity. 

 'I'lirner has a line poetical scene, but 

 it is Ko outrag<;(ius in colour as even 

 to ecJip.se all ids former extravagan- 

 <'i(;s. 'J'liesc visionary ub.snrdities are 

 ujion a (lai with much of (he nni.sic 



and poetry of the day: aflTectation and 

 refinement run mud. Constable's fresh 

 and powerful transcripts from nature 

 are convincing proofs of her superi- 

 ority to the sophistications of art. 

 Thomson has a clever picture from the 

 Winter's Tale. Howard is exqui- 

 sitely poetical in his Solar System. 

 Allen has been very successful in 

 Knox admonishing the Queen of Scots, 

 The preacher is very digtiilicd and 

 energetic, and Mary very lovely. 

 Clint surpasses himself in his Scene 



from the Spoiled Cltild. The expres- 

 sion of Tag is particularly happy, and 

 the complacent rapture of Miss Pickle 

 beyond all praise. We certainly think 

 it the most perfect picture of its class 

 in the exhibition. Mr. Daniell has 

 very boldly presented his formal pic- 

 ture of the quadrangle of Arundel 

 Castle, with one of the most command- 

 ing places in the Great Room. His 

 Sea-piece in the centre of the Anti- 

 Room is quite beyond our comprehisn- 

 sion. His works, although not with- 

 out taste and execution, arc tltis season 

 offensively obtrusive. Collins's Devon, 

 and Wahner Castle, are both charming 

 pictures. Tho veteran Northcote has 

 some miserable portraits, which meet 

 our eyes in every direction. They are 

 enough to shake his historical reputa- 

 tion, great as it deservedly is. Westall's 

 historical picture of Christ crowned 

 with Tho7-ns, possesses much talent. 

 In effect it is very powerful : in colour, 

 a little too glaring. The President has 

 numy splendid i)ortraits : Sir W. 

 Kniyhlon, and i-o/v/ Francis Cony nf/ham, 

 are among his hajipicst ; Lady Jersey 

 is very brilliant, but a little too fantas- 

 tic for our tastes. Sir H. Racburii 

 lias some excellent heads : (242.) 

 Portrait of a Gentleman is very finely 

 painted. Phillips's Duhc of York is a 

 magnificent picture. Pickersgill ini- 

 provis rapidly: his whole-length of 

 Jiarber Jieanmoiit, esq. is a brilliant 

 instance, and L' tmjirovisatore a de- 

 lightful picture. Sharpo has {in inter- 

 esting and attractive |ii<turc of (iar- 

 rivk's Jubilee; and (i. Jones a clever 

 picture of a Gale at Bordeaux, in his 

 usual style. Caleott's Dutch flfnrhtt 

 Jioats is a very line speciinuui of this 

 superior artist, cxquisit<ly painted. 

 Coopiir has some spirited baltle-piecos. 

 Witherington's Johnny Gilpin, an ex- 

 Iremcly clever picture, and by far hi.s 



# best, 



