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ADDITIONAL REMARKS ON THE SCHOOL OF PAINTING, AT THE BRITISH
INSTITUTION.
(_To the Editor of the Mirror_.)
My first view of the copies at the British Institution being rather
too cursory to allow me to do ample justice to several of much merit.
Another visit has enabled me to make a few additional remarks on the
performances of many worthy young aspirants, who, it is presumed, will
receive fresh stimulus from the approbation extended to them.
In my last notice, which appeared in No. 396, of the MIRROR, I
adverted to Miss Sharpe's water-colour drawing of the Holy Family, by
Sir J. Reynolds; this is really an inimitable copy, possessing all the
richness of tint, and even the boldness and texture, of the original.
It is unquestionably the finest copy in water ever executed in the
Institution, to which, as well as to the talented lady, it is a very
high honour. From the numerous _small_ copies _in oil_ of the Holy
Family, I regret not being able to select more than one--that by Mr.
Sargeant.
Mr. Heaphy, in all his drawings, evinces considerable artistical
knowledge; his small study from Vandyke's Portrait of a Gentleman is
admirable in colour and execution.
Messrs. Drake, Fussell, and Sargeant, have cleverly imitated the fine
Cattle Piece, by Cuyp; and Messrs. Pasmore and Novice deserve notice for
their studies from Gainsborough's large landscape with figures. Messrs.
Anderson and Woolmer are the best imitators of Berghem's Landscape
and Cattle; and the Interior of a Kitchen, by Maaes, has met with the
greatest possible attention from Miss Alabaster, Mr. Bone, Jun., and
Messrs. Novice and Buss. The best attempts from the Canaletti are by
Miss Dujardin, Mr. F. Watts, and D. Pasmore, Jun. From the copies of
Titian's Holy Family, we may prefer Mr. Rochard's, which is the same
size as the original.
Guercino's magnificent work, the Soul of St. Peter ascending into
Heaven attended by Angels, which was formerly an altar-piece, has
been copied in small. This is not, perhaps, at first sight, a very
attractive picture; but the longer we look at it, the longer we seem
disposed to admire it, for it insensibly conveys to the mind sublime
ideas, seldom experienced before.
Perhaps the most novel performance in the present school is by Mr.
Davis; representing a View of the Gallery, with all the original
pictures, the different styles of which he has well succeeded in. His
work is a sort of _multum in parvo,_ extremely pretty and interesting.
To conclude--the copies by Mrs. Pearson, Miss Farrier, Miss Kearsley,
&c. are very clever; as are those by Messrs. Wate, Phillips, Brough,
Hastings, Mackay, and Irving.