342 Progress of the Arts, Ke. 
ignorant, of rule, and not instructed by the 
comparison of models, judged only by 
their eye or ear; and he was the best 
painter or the best poet, who. could at- 
tract the one or the other. The most 
florid paintings, and poems of the most 
monstrous images, were still in fashion in 
the last days ot Catherine, and the walls 
ef her favorite palaces were indiscrimi- 
nately covered with the chef-d’euvres of 
the great masters, and with daubs which 
would scarcely be admitted on an English 
sign-post. Music was precisely in the 
same state. The Russian music is cha- 
racterized by a sinplicity which degene- 
Fates into monotony, and by a gaiety, 
which,wanting distiictmess and variety, is 
more frequently noisy than musical. The 
Empress Catherine endeavoured to im- 
prove it, by imfusing the Italian melody. 
"Fhe Empress, howevever, here com- 
pletely failed ; and though there were few 
things but what she could compass, at 
Teast in some degree, she left the Russian 
music where she found it. The ears of 
the Russians would neither understand nor 
talerate the science of the Italian opera? 
An Italian singer was received by the au- 
dience with much the same temper, as 
they would have reecived the pope; the 
direct countenance and even the presence 
of the court, was scarcely sufficient to 
protect him from insult. 
There is another minor art, if so that 
may be called, which is certainly an ob- 
ject of rule, in which the Russians had 
hittle excellence, previous to the present 
reign. The Russians, though generally 
an active race, and particularly the wo- 
men, had not that natural distinction 
which is said to have characterized the 
aneient Greeks, and which in no inconsi- 
derable degree has descended to their 
posterity. ‘Fhey were not naturally dan- 
cers; their dancing was nothing but the 
irregular gaiety of a people of happy 
disposition, It consisted in nothing but 
a wild agility, a rapidity of motion, with 
no attention whatever to elegance or har- 
mony. It was little to a Russian, whe- 
ther he moved hisarms or legs, if by such 
motion he could keep a kid of general 
time with atune of about six notes, The 
savages of New Zealand dance on their 
hams, and the ancient Russian seemed 
to perform, as if he followed the palsy for 
his model, 
Such was the condition of the arts of 
painting, sculpture, music, and dancing, 
at the decease of the Empress Catherine. 
Let us see what is their present state, 
in the Russian Empire, [May 1, 
and through what interval they have 
passed. , 
This information is only to be found in 
the accounts of recenttravellers. There 
are two of those who at present occupy 
the ‘public attention: Sir John Carr, in 
his Northern Tour ; and Mr. Ker Porter, 
in his splendid work, the Travelling 
Sketches. The Northern Tour of Sir John 
Carr contains much valuable matter, and 
personal observation; and I read it with 
much avidity. The Travelling Sketches 
of Mr. Porter, are infinitely beyoud my 
praise ; perhaps no hook can be produced 
which, without the dryness of professed 
statistical research, contains a more fuil 
view and survey of the present state of 
manners, arts, and political economy of 
.the Russian empire. His pencil, more- 
over, comes into the aid of his pen, and 
by their united results, not only the sub- 
stance, but~ even the form of Rus- 
sian life and manners, is before the_ 
eyes of the reader. Mr. Porter has made 
the public a gift, which I hope will not 
be the last. - 
“ The Emperor Paul,” says Mr. Ke 
Porter, “with the best intentions in the 
world, but certainly with a strange way - 
of pursuing them, was an avowed: pro- 
tector of the arts, and particularly of 
painting and sculpture. Asan example 
for all painters, he issued an zcase, by 
which it was ordered that all bridges, 
watch-houses, and imperial gates through- 
out the empire, should be painted in the 
gayest possible manner. Every thing 
was accordingly arrayed in red, and this 
colour in consequence become so much 
in fashion, as totally to destroy, and as it 
where overwhelm all genius. No pic- 
ture would be looked at, in which all the 
figures were not arrayed in this co- 
lour,” &c. ’ 
As the book of which IT am speak- 
ing, is of very recent’ publication, I am 
afraid of being thought to do injustice to 
the able author, by availing myself too - 
liberally of his information. But who- 
ever wishes to obtain a perfect idea of 
the present state of the fine arts in Rus- 
sia, will do well to consult the-sixth let-- 
ter of Mr. Porter, ia which he gives an 
account of the present state of the Rus- 
sian Institution for the Encouragement 
of Arts. For the sake of completing this 
part of my subject, I must be permitted 
to avail myself of one extract further :— 
— hanc veniam petimusque damusque vicissim, 
This liberty we must give and take. 
