FINE AETS. 



353 



inches high, but as grand in treatment and 

 effect as if it measured as many feet ; a fine 

 bronze Venus of the Roman era; and a variety 

 of vases and miscellaneous articles. Of late 

 years a formidable rival to tho British Museum 

 has come into existence at Brompton, near Lon- 

 don, under the name of the South Kensington 

 Museum. Established originally as a Ceramic 

 Museum in connection with the Schools of De- 

 sign, it was intended to contain a collection 

 which should be simply one of reference for the 

 workman. But according to a writer in the 

 London "Art Journal," "the interests of the 

 genuine workman have been neglected in the 

 formation of the museum, that a gorgeous dis- 

 play might be made of expensive and showy 

 china, enamels, bronzes, etc., that attract other 

 classes, and secure the votes of dillettanti mem- 

 bers of the House of Commons." Being a new in- 

 stitution, unfettered by custom or precedent, and 

 under the control of an enthusiastic and some- 

 what ambitious board of management, it has 

 actually thrown down the gage to its venerable 

 rival in South Russell Street, and competes with 

 it for public favor as well as parliamentary 

 appropriations. In both efforts it seems likely 

 to be successful. Thanks to a large portion of 

 the national collection of pictures recently trans- 

 ferred to its commodious galleries, and to its 

 accessibility day and evening to all classes, it 

 has become one of the most popular and agree- 

 able resorts of the metropolis, and seems rather 

 a gigantic curiosity shop than a museum of 

 industrial art, as originally intended. Of late, 

 however, public attention has been directed to 

 the purchase by its trustees, at extravagant 

 prices, of numerous trivial articles, interesting 

 to the mere curiosity-hunter, but of no possible 

 use in developing national taste ; and it is now 

 seriously debated whether such articles ought 

 not to be transferred to the British Museum, 

 where they more properly belong, and the Ken- 

 sington institution, restricted to its legitimate 

 purposes, viz. : the collection of " ornamental 

 art in connection with manufactures." That 

 some arrangement of this nature will soon be 

 made, seems not improbable. Among other art 

 treasures which the South Kensington Museum 

 has lately absorbed is the series of Cartoons by 

 Raphael, which have for so many years proved 

 the principal attraction of Hampton Court Pal- 

 ace. They have been removed, against tho 

 earnest protest of the inhabitants of the adjoin- 

 ing parishes, on the score of inadequate accom- 

 modation, the dust and dampness of Hampton 

 Court, it is said, having seriously injured their 

 surfaces. The Royal Academy, now rapidly 

 approaching the hundredth year of its existence, 

 closed its exhibition for 1865 in August. The 

 monetary produce of the exhibition greatly ex- 

 ceeded that of any previous year, amounting to 

 upward of 13,000, and the sale of pictures was 

 larger than usual. In consequence of its great 

 wealth and prestige, it continues to be a power 

 in the British art world, but its influence in 

 forming public taste and developing national art 

 VOL. v. 23 A 



has not been felt to the extent anticipated by its 

 founders. The sculptor John Gibson, one of its 

 members, has intimated his intention to add to 

 the great resources of the academy by a bequest 

 of 32,000, the sole condition being that a part 

 of its gallery shall contain casts of his works, 

 to be supplied by the sculptor. Engraving on 

 metal and on wood is somewhat unequally pur- 

 sued in England at present, the former process 

 seeming in danger of becoming eventually a lost 

 art, while the latter is cultivated at a constantly 

 increasing rate and with surprising results. 

 During the year, Mr. G. T. Doo's large line en- 

 graving from Sebastian del Piombo's "Raising 

 of Lazarus," in the National Gallery, by far tho 

 most important works of its class produced for 

 many years, was completed. In drawing, tex- 

 ture, and masterly rendering of chiaro-scuro, it is 

 said to recall the efforts of the best era of line 

 engraving. Of the numerous specimens of ex- 

 cellent wood engraving produced during the 

 year we can only refer to the illustrations from 

 the old masters and the mediaeval illuminators 

 in the edition of the New Testament published 

 by the Messrs. Longman, of London. Nothing 

 yet produced in the art excels, if indeed it 

 approaches, the delicacy and beauty of these 

 impressions, which are more effective for their 

 size than engravings on steel or copper. A 

 patent has been taken by Mr. Emery, of Co- 

 bridge, for a new method of decorating pottery, 

 by which the art becomes so simplified as to be 

 within the reach of any one capable of tracing 

 a passable outline with the crayon. The design 

 is drawn in color, on earthenware or porcelain, 

 so as to resemble at once the ordinary results 

 of drawing or enamelling, and subsequently 

 submitted, as enamels are, to the heat of the 

 kiln. It is proposed as an amusement for young 

 persons, but will doubtless soon subserve a 

 much higher purpose. During the year British 

 art lost two distinguished representatives, Sir 

 Charles Eastlake, President of the Royal Acad- 

 emy, and Mr. J. F. Herring, the animal painter. 

 The latter was well known in the United States 

 through prints of his works. Notices of each 

 will be found elsewhere. 



FKANCE. The rage for buying works of art, 

 noted as so prevalent in England in 1865, found 

 its counterpart on the other side of the channel, 

 and Paris fairly rivalled London in the number 

 and value of the collections offered to public 

 competition at auction. In the latter part of 

 February was commenced the sale of the cele- 

 brated collection of the Count de Pourtales- 

 Gorgier, who died about ten years previous, 

 leaving directions that the dispersal of his art 

 treasures should not commence until 1865. 

 "Whether this was a mere whim on the part of 

 the owner, or an instance of sagacious foresight, 

 cannot be ascertained ; but it is certain that the 

 result has been exceedingly satisfactory to his 

 heirs. The collection comprised pictures, sculp- 

 tures, medals, bronzes, antique gems, almost 

 every variety of pottery, ivory carvings, etc., 

 and was by many degrees the most complete 



