1829. ] Fine Aris’ 
represents, without in the least degree di- 
vesting it of its natural and modern look 
‘and expression. And this is the more sin- 
‘gular as all his figures are taken from a low 
grade of life—scotch peasants, water car- 
riers, shepherds, and the like. In this res- 
pect his “ Scotch Peasants, Loch Lomond’’ 
(173) is a most admirable work. There is 
a grandeur of style about it that would be- 
‘come a subject from ancient poetry or My- 
‘thology; and yet every part of it, and the 
‘whole together, are perfectly consistent with 
the actual scene and persons represented. 
Exactly the same may be said of several 
‘other of this artist’s productions in the pre- 
sent collection, in particular two of “ Fern 
Burners” (219), and “Scotch Peasants, 
Loch Achray” (263). 
Mr. Prout has but few of his fine, rich, 
weighty and characteristic (howbeit some- 
what too much mannered) productions this 
year ; but what he does exhibit are as mas- 
terly as usual. The most striking and ela- 
borate is a View on the Great Canal at 
Venice. The other leading supporters of 
this society, and practisers of this charming 
art, Messrs. Varley, Lewis, Harding, Gas- 
tineau, Evans, &c. have each contributed 
_ their share of attraction ; and we meet with 
_ Many very pleasing productions by hands 
“searcely as yet ‘known to fame.” 
 Cosmorama, Regent Street.—This Ex- 
‘hibition has just re-opened, with a set of 
‘new pieces, no less than fourteen in number, 
and of very various merit. Some are mere 
_worthless daubs; others have little to re- 
commend them but the interest and curio- 
Sity of the scene and objects represented ; 
and others are executed with considerable 
. skill, and their subjects are so well adapted 
to the peculiar nature of the exhibition, as 
“to produce a strikingly agreeable and inte- 
resting effect. “Among the latter, the chief 
and most meritorious are, the Interior of 
St. Peter’s, at Rome, the Interior of t’e 
named Thom. 
Exhibitions. 667 
Church of St. Gudule at Brussels, and the 
Interior of Saint Paul’s Cathedral. We do 
not remember to have seen any views at 
this or similar places, more effective than 
the three we have named; and the whole 
exhibition is one presenting considerable 
attractions to mere sight-seekers of the sea- 
son of the year. 
Mr. Thom’s Sculpture.—Among the 
most remarkable exhibitions connected with 
fine arts that we remember to have wit- 
nessed, is one lately open to public view in 
Bond-street, consisting of two pieces of 
sculpture, by a self taught Scottish artist, 
Each object consists of a 
figure, as large as life, seated in a chair, 
and representing, the one, Tam O’Shanter, 
and the other Souter Johnny—the two he- 
roes of one of Burns’s admirable comic 
stories. In point of intrinsic merit, these 
works have been ridiculously overrated ; but 
as evidences of an extraordinary degree of 
natural cleverness, they are perhaps unri- 
valled, and cannot be too much admired and 
praised. 
Gallery of English Beauties. —The June 
number of this charming collection ofengray- 
ings, represents the elegant and piquante 
Lady Ellenborough ; and it represents her 
in a manner, and to an effect exactly cor- 
responding with her peculiar class of beauty, 
which is as simple as it is sweet and touch- 
ing. She is attired in clouds alone, which 
cluster about her till she seems emerging 
from and born of them, as Venus was of 
the ocean waves; and around her head a 
sort of starry glory has been added, which, 
if it is not exactly appropriate to a living 
beauty, gives an interest and effect to the 
face and form which its extreme simplicity, 
in other respects, makes it stand in need of. 
This portrait forms the 54th of the Series 
of the Beauties of the Court of George the 
Fourth, now in course of publication in 
La Belle Assemblée. 
TARIETIES, SCIENTIFIC AND MISCELLANEOUS. 
«The Public and Private Libraries of 
Ancient Rome.—During the first five cen- 
_ turies, Rome appears to haye possessed 
: either literature nor libraries. The first 
considerable library was brought to Rome 
/Emilius Probus, in the year 586, after 
ie plunder of the treasures of King Per- 
“seus ; but it is not known whether this was 
preserved or sold. After the taking of 
Dem thens, Sylla enriched Rome with the 
if ~ Deautiful library of Pisistratus; he trans- 
- mitted it to his son, and the ulterior fate of 
this collection is unknown. After the ex- 
| ample of Sylla, Lucullus chose from the 
booty of Pontus, a library for his own use 
‘and that of the studious. The private 
library of Terentius Varro is also men- 
tioned ; unfortunately it was dispersed after 
the death of the proprietor. Cicero also 
possessed a fine library. . Aulus Gellius 
likewise specifies that of Tibertius; there 
were several others in the municipia and 
the colonies. LEpaphroditus of Charonea, 
is said to have possessed 30,000 volumes, 
and Serenus Sammonicus 62,000, which 
were bequeathed to the emperor Gordian. 
As to public libraries, Augustus first esta- 
blished oné in Rome ; it was placed under 
the vestibule of the Temple of Liberty, on 
the Aventine Hill. Soon after, the same 
emperor founded two other libraries, the 
Octavian, under the portico of his sister 
Octavia, and the Palatine, in the temple of 
Apollo, on the Palatine Hill; this was rich 
in Greek and Latin works, and authors re- 
garded it an honour to have their writings 
placed there ; under the reign of Commo- 
dus, this literary treasure became a.prey to 
the flames. In the palace of Tiberius, on 
the same hill, was also a library, the Tibe- 
4a2 ° 
