On this page
- Departments (1)
-
Text (4)
-
he beautifullproportioned goddessat is U...
-
Paintings on Glass.—Signor Agnoni has on...
-
" • " " " ---4£t1tt> ^rtf jrilW JUU. *
-
NEW PUBLICATIONS. "With the approach of ...
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software. The text has not been manually corrected and should not be relied on to be an accurate representation of the item.
-
-
Transcript
-
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software. The text has not been manually corrected and should not be relied on to be an accurate representation of the item.
Additionally, when viewing full transcripts, extracted text may not be in the same order as the original document.
The Pai.Ace Of The People, Musweu Hill. ...
existing Art Unions , and as it is by no means impossible that elegant as well as inelegant works in all walks < rf art can be cheaply multiplied to meet a very large demand , the scheme is quite worth attention . The best productions of the metallurgist and the cotter are often beyond the reach of the admiring niultitude , because , in his wish to recover his heavy outlay in designing and modelling , the manufacturer charges it upon a limited number of copies only , and thus stamps upon his wares a market price that effectually shuts up demand . But it is easy to see that by the co-operation of many subscribers the cost of this high-class labour can be reduced to a mere fraction per copy , and the Art-Union directors fre enabled , in a way and for a while , to carry out the programme set out for them by our
contem-The proposition to return twenty shillings in the pound to the subscribers , and to make a profit out of the balance , no doubt appears , prima facie , paradoxical . But , as may appear from our remarks above , the feat is not impossible ; and its performance , nay even the attempt , will spur our fine arts manufactures by bringing the acquisition of beautiful objects within reach of the modest million whom fear of temptation and conscious want of pence , not of taste , restrict at present to timid glances at the treasures of the fine-art shops .
We shall watch the progress of the experiment with some interest , and to a certainty take a turn ourselves in this real wheel of fortune . We may chance to be in good company , if it be true , as stated , that Lord Carlisle heads the council , which also comprises the names of many excellent artists and virtuosi . CRYSTAL PALACE . IMPORTANT ANNOUNCEMENT . On the 25 th of November , Professor Pepper , late of the Poly technic , entered upon Ms daily duties , when the various collections of art and nature at the Palace were popularly illustrated ; independent chemical and scientific lectures being also introduced . The success with which Mr ! Pepper developed the resources—both .
for amusement and instruction- —of the Polytechnic Institution is well knbwn , and is a guarantee for still greater success in the Crj-stal Palace , the contents of which are so much more varied , and where he will find an almost boundless field for the exercise Of his great powers of illustration . In his hand the magnificent Courts of the Palace—hitherto a sealed book to the multitude , will for the first time open their treasures of Art and History to the learned and unlearned alike . An important step for extending railway connexion with the Palace has lately been taken , which promises the happiest results . Although the West-end line ha 3 increased the facility of access to the extreme west of London , and will be further developed in the summer after next by the extension to Buckingham Palace , the north of the metropolis has hitherto been almost cut otf
from Sydenhara . It is true a connexion between the north and south already exists , by means of the Wimbledon branch to Croydon , but the distance is so great , and the complications so many , that practically it is useless as a means of access to the Crystal Palace . Inconvenient as this is for passengers , it is still more vexatious in the case of goods . For instance , to bring qoals from the London and North Western Railway to the Brighton Railway Company ' Depot , besides the circuitous route , no less than flvo shuntings or reversals of the trains are requisite , thus adding no less than three shillings per ton to the cost of the coal . To obviate t hia , a company has been created to form a j unction of about two and a half miles in length , between the West London lino at Kensington and the Wcat-end at Winulsworth .
When this is done , the Crystal Palace will have direct communication with the Great Western , the North Western , the Groat Northern , and the Eastern Counties Railways . . To the north of London , especially , this line ¦ will be . a great convenience . The inhabitants of the populous and increasing districts on the north of London —Kensington , Camden Town , Ham patent ] , Highgato , Islington , Hackney , & c , —have been hitherto practically ¦ d ebarred from the advantages and plcasuroa of the Crystal Palace . The new lino will bring these iim portant neighbourhoods into direct communication with Sydonham by an ncces . i as easy and as cheap as that which now exists from London Bridge and Pimlico . It will also aflbrd the long wanted moau 9 for rapid daily excursions to the Crystal Palace from Birmingham and the northern districts , and thus conduce to the general development of the- resources of this great national undertaking .
He Beautifullproportioned Goddessat Is U...
So . 485 , DecembeeI 1 , 1858 , 1 THE LE 1 BEB , 13 B 1 ' - ——¦—*¦ . ^—— . ^^¦^¦^—¦^^ m ^^^^ m ^ w ^—^^*^ " ^^^ MM ^^^^^^^^^^^ ~~~
Paintings On Glass.—Signor Agnoni Has On...
Paintings on Glass . —Signor Agnoni has on view , at the large room of the Society of Arts , in the Adelphi , a pair of paintings on glass , which are of a character unlike any we liavo yet aeon . The cflect sought to bo produced Is Uko that of natural objocts ne they appear when reflected in a mirror . Tho silver is removed from , portions of the back of tho mirror , and tho figures painted on those portions . Tho effect thus obtuined is v * xy fine and tho illusion almost perfect . In one looking-glass tho artist has oxhibitod , the spectator
fancies that he sees a beautifully proportioned goddess , attended by sportive Cupids , floating in the summer air . The New Theatre Royal Adedphi . —We borrow the subjoined particulars , with thanks , from our contemporary the Builder . •—•* The main alterations interesting in the question of theatre-planning , will be found to be those as to the width of the proscenium-opening in proportion to the « auditory ; ' the projection of the balcon , or stalls of the dress-circle ; and the generally increased space , as appropriated mainly with reference to the comfort of the audience ; to greater number of staircases of communication between the tiers ; and to a gallery staircase , with entrance from Bull-inn-court , in lieu of that which was reached from the entrance in the Strand . The whole area is not only greater than that in the old housebut even a less proportion than ^ ^^ - _ _ jm __ , j . T ^* ,-, — i .
, usual of the seats opposite the stage are beneath boxes . There are three tiers ( two boxes and one gallery ) above the pit level . The upper boxes and gallery are different from the lower boxes , by the omission of tne balcon . There are two rows of seats in the balcon ; , and the remainder of the space is divided into fourteen boxes , which , from the arrangement of the divisions , may be treated as at once public and private boxes . Another innovation deserving of praise is that intended in the front of the balcon , which is to be of open-work of some kind , so that the ladies' dresses may show through , though whether it will be popular may be a question . The whole house will accommodate 1408 persons seated . Mr . T . H . Wyatt is the architect ; Mr . J . Will-son is the builder ; and Mr . Pasfield is the architect ' s clerk of the works . "
" • " " " ---4£T1tt≫ ^Rtf Jrilw Juu. *
fvxt Iris .
New Publications. "With The Approach Of ...
NEW PUBLICATIONS . "With the approach of the new year engravers are beginning to put forth samples of their handicraft , and the shops of print publishers look gay with novelty . Let us take a glance at some of the newest productions . Messrs . Colnaghi and Co . claim especial notice and honour for the publication of magnificent Photographs of Raphael ' s Cartoon * , executed on a scale of magnitude almost unprecedented , by Messrs . Caldesi and Montechi . They are in three sizes , the largest measuring 44 inches by 28 , varyof the cartoons
ing according to the proportions , and the smallest li inches by 9 . These productions will prove invaluable aids to tUe study of the genius and style of tho great Roman master , and will invite inspection for hours together without wearying the eye . They differ essentially from all engraved copies of these stupendous works in the important fact that every feature , every line , is an exact counterpart of the original , showing indeed the very working of the artist ' s hand , whereas in all engravings the subject has to be , as it is termed , "translated , " and though the result aimed at is intended to supplv the nearest substitute for the
original , it is through a medium entirel y new . We have indeed , with the exception only of the colour , which is not important in these works , the very originals themsclves , andsecn , indeed , under circumstances more than usually favourable ; for the sun , taken in its happiest mood , has been made to investigate and transcribe many a minute detail , which , to the naked eye , under the ordinary conditions of a crowded picture-gallery , would not have been noticed . Raphael is admitted on all hands to have been the great master of expression , but never will his claims to this distinction bo fully understood until after passing iu review the heads iu these Scripture groups , any one of which is a distinct creation , realised with a force and truth which amount to illusion . Even in the snuvllost scries of
photographs before us the grand panorama of human passion comprised in them is distinctly appreciable , so subtle is the power of sun-painting . But so highly havctho photographists boon impressed with their subject , that they huvo , in addition to the three sets of cartoons , produced in a much larger scaleaserics of studi * sorparticular heads and groups . Thus the group of Our Lord and Peter iu the " Miraculous Draught of Fishes , " stands beforo us upon a sheet thirty inchos square j and the Elymns _ tho Sorcerer , Ananias , ana other master conceptions , will follow upon a similar scale . Wo may add that iu the matt or of translating colour , which has always been a stumbling-block to the photographist , particularly as regards yellows , blues , and some others , Messrs . CuUlosi arid Montechi luvvo boon inoro than usually successful on tho present
season , is Uobson ' s Jieadittg the Psalms , admirably engraved by Henry Cousins ( Henry Graves and Co . ) . The original picture was purchased b y Miss Burdett Coutts , a lady eminent alike for her virtues and her purity of taste , and by her permission this transcript is given to the public . Two children , brother and sister , are reading the Psalms in the holy volume open before them ; their calm , beautiful , innocent faces seem as if inspired and beatified by the sacred themes revealed to them ; and to gaze upon them would almost persuade the most obdurate and worldly-minded to follow their example . Pure and elevating as is the sentiment conveyed , the execution in all particulars is of the ' most delicate and tasteful character . ~ a / ic nn * o' 1 lr \ VteAii e § 2 a st n . 119 St T . hf * ' ' r ^ Stff . ' l . Wift- H . ( im
Messrs . H . Graves and Co . have just published the sixth part of the Zoological Sketches , by Joseph "Wolf , executed in lithography , coloured by hand , after originals made for the Zoological Society of London , from animals in their vivarium . The book is edited with notes by D . W . Mitchell , B . A ., the Secretary to the Society , and on all accounts may be considered one of the most important contributions in Natural History that has been made for many years . Those who know Mr . "Wolfs jj ifted pencil in this peculiar line , and his long and ripe stndy of animal life , will be prepared for the
extreme accuracy , the marvellous finish , and the remarkable identity of character which , mark each , several portrait group . What will give the work additional and lasting value , is the tact that in selecting the subjects , particular regard has been had to " those species which exhibit aptitude for acclimatation ; " and the probability therefore is , that for the most part the individuals here portrayed may in after years be recognised as the progenitors of a long and interesting line of descendants . A curious story is told by Mr . Mitchell of our old friend the hippopotamus , which , though not . strictly matter of Fine Art . we cannot resist the opportunity of
transcribing : — _ k The hippopotamus in confinement is capricious in . temper , and iu his affections . Commencing with a love for his keeper , Hamet Saffi el Canaana , so intense that he could not sleep without touching him , and so jealous that he avenged his occasional absences , while on board the steam-ship Ripon , with ingeniously mischievous resentment ; commencing with a personal attachment so strong , which he lias only modified and made less demonstrative towards his present attendant , he has learnt to hate as well . There are certain individuals whose appearance always excites his wrath ; and classes of persons , especially labourers and workmen -wearing linen
jackets . The inveterate feeling against the latter ia probably traceable to the discomfort he experienced from them at the time his present habitation was in the course of construction . His distinction of individuals is more difficult to account for . The gentleman towards whom he moat constantly expresses his displeasure assures me that he never " gave his fat friend any cause of olYenco whatever , except that he one day addressed to him some expressions in Arabic which were certainly not complimentary . " The Portrait'of MadeiHoiselle Jtosa Bonheur , by D-ubufe , engraved by Samuel Cousins , JR .. A . ( Gamhart and Co . ) , is in every way a most interesting
work to the lover of art . It represents the great animal paintrcss of the day in a picturesque and congenial group—the other party being a favourite young bul ) , upon whose shoulders she is leaning in an easy cljt / ag j attitude . With crayon in one hand and sk ' etch-book in tho other , her occupation is at once revealed , whilst her fine semi-masculine faoe , fino broad forehead , and expressive and observant eye , stamp her character unmistakably as Unit of an artist out of the common run . What gives additional interest to the picture is that tho introduced bull is from
the hand of liosa herself ; and his good-humoured face and fine wavy coat show him to be a veritable nccontcd favourite , and not a . model " sitter" made up " for the occasion . The engraving by Sainaol Cousins of this interestingpicturo may be pronounced a masterp iece of caligrapliy . The various textures of nosh , hair , silk-dress , bull's coat , & c ., are admirably discriminated , and groat judgment is shown in the manner iu . whioh tho face is brought into relief , as it were , against a luminous sky background .
SOCIliXY FOR THE EXCOUKAGJiMJENT Oii THE ITNE AllTS . The provisional meeting of thia now sooioty is announced to take pluou at tho Ilttuovor-squarq iWms , on Friday evening » oxl , whon a varied and rather novel programme will doubtless attraot a numerous assemblage . In addition to the ordinary platform business of a public meeting will bo given a concorl . of cliibsienl inuaic , vocal and instrumental , for which sonio of tho principal professionals have
. A charming little subject at any time , but particularly appropriate at tho appending solemn
-
-
Citation
-
Leader (1850-1860), Dec. 11, 1858, page 15, in the Nineteenth-Century Serials Edition (2008; 2018) ncse2.kdl.kcl.ac.uk/periodicals/l/issues/cld_11121858/page/15/
-