On this page
- Departments (1)
-
Text (5)
-
Untitled Article
-
Untitled Article
-
Untitled Article
-
'<Clj£fltrWI flttft (ButtXfuiUtlltVAB <r ,
-
Untitled Article
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.
Untitled Article
state that as we propose to occupy ground which we believe to be wholly unoccupied , to supply an action of a kind and in a direction which has not yet been attempted , so we propose—and almost as a natural consequence of that right line of conduct—to guard ourselves most scrupulously against rivalry or antagonism with any existing art body or art interest . Our object is not to destroy or impair the action of any fellow labourers in the great field of art ; the strength of our
position will not be increased by weakening theirs , and we can gain nothing by their loss . On the other hand , appealing as we do to the suffrages of the . million for the success of pur cause , using the intelligence of the public as our means , it is not impossible that our influence , by increasing and improving the feeling for art amongst the community at large , may be the means of promoting the objects and increasing the practical efficacy of all existing institutions devoted to art , a result of which we shall be but too happy to witness .
These statements were received with cordial approval , and must have disarmed opposition if any had been meditated . One observation , and one onlj > was added , . which , though delicate ] y put , might be : taken as a suggestion of some reform tendencies as a possible result of the operations of the society : — " And if in any way , as a consequence , this should lead to the . extension or improvement of the machinery of any such institutions , we should bail the fact as one of the greatest triumphs it could fall within our ambition to contemplate . " After going into various details , the speaker threw the future charge and prospects of the' society upon publ ic opinion , and concluded , ' rather grandiloquently , by
an adjuration to the future : — - " ' Humble as are the hands by which the foundation of this institution have been laid , we are sanguine enough to believe that , supported by public opinion , it will beconlie of utility and influence worthy of the arts of the age ; and that this day iipoii which it is established may be considered entitled to honourable record in the history of civilisation and progress . " Bravo , Mr . Qttley . Mr . Timbs , the learned compiler of the " Things not Generally Known , " who happened to be present , will , doubtless , make a note of the event for some future'editionofhis " Curiositiesof History . " To conclude with this society for the pi'esent : there
can be no doubt , we think , that it presents novelty and merit in its leading features ; but its scheme is so comprehensive as to require high intelligence , indefatigaole industry , and large and powerful machinery to keep it in action . A grea . t deal will depend upon the men by whom all this is to be directed , and although it would be ungracious at this early period to canvas the merits of the several gentlemen at present upon the council , we confess that we heard with satisfaction from the chairman that at the earliest convenient period the constitution of the executive would be subject to revision , the officers being elected by the general body oi the members .
Untitled Article
Leonardo da Vinoi ' s Last Supper . Engraved on wood by F . J . Smyth , after a drawing by Thomas 3 D : Scott . ( Virtue and Co . )—We have here a remarkably fine specimen of wood-engraving , being , ¦ we believe , one of a series of copies of the great masters , intended to be produced by the enterprising publishers . The size is that of Raphael Morgen ' s well-known copper-plate engraving , the effects of which are copied with wonderful accuracy in a medium so different in its conditions , The wprk is evidently one in which Mr . Smyth , the engraver , lias taken pride , and he has lavished upon it nil the resources of his art . The delicacy of finish in all parts is admirable , especially in the expression of the
faces , and all the textual treatment as to discriminating the varieties of surface in the hair , the glans , and other vessels on the table , the sharp folds of the tablecloth , &c . In some parts minute cross-hatchingB h « ve been introduced with great skill and effect . Though published a , t a low price , this really interesting print is well -worthy of framing . We should like to see it followed by the cartoons of Raphael , and the Trans figuration , and other standard works of the great Italian school , produced in a simitar style . Wo want some aids of this kind to counteract the vicious influence of maudlin trash , unfortunately too
popular with the million . Mn . E . H . Baily—This gontloman , the favourite pupil of the illustrious Flaxman , and the eeulptor of one of the most poetic groups in English art , *« Evo at the Fountain , " hns retired from the art ho advanced—not too well off , we are sorry to hear—fuller of honour than of riches . His last work was tho model for the St . Paul ' s statue of Mr , Kuakin ' s Turner . But tho Turner Htntuo was given to Mr . MacDowoIl , a younger sculptor , but one eminent in Iiis art ; and Mr . Ually 'has handsomely drawn his retiring mantlo around him . He will be hoard of hereafter ns a master in his line . —Illustrated London Kewa .
Untitled Article
holders as well as our clients th e million , r . eeiootT means at their disposal for ventilating their « gramme . Some old-fashioned friends of ours & observed that the character of the institution £ 2 likely to be lowered by the dissemination of h ™* bills , the affixing of posters , and liberal advertE , " but , to our thinking , these means must be far inn ?' widely adopted than at present if it is the wish nf the hoard to advance the interests of their J ^ stituents . The Crystal Palace and its interesting contents are not " located" at Sydenham for thl private delectation of shareholders , season-ticket holders , and the neighbouring nobility and frentiv That they are there is hard enough upon of
persons taste whom the distance keeps away , and unluckv enough for their owners . But that they should be a select show were a disaster . The speculation can only look for prosperity to its pop ularity with the masses . Fine folks will find it fast enough-, but it must go afield to catch the million ; and the ' milli on must he called into the circle of its attractions bv the old invocations . There is nothing hut " printers * ink" for it— that good old recipe of Mr . Barnum and his legion of successful imitators , who make fortunes by " printers' ink , " though they sometimes knock them down by " spekylntin ' . " The punning handbill before us is admirably calculated to diffuse among the million the knowledge of the Christmas
doings at Sydenham , and if it be circulated by tens of thousands instead of by dozens , will no " doubt produce a largo and remunerative crop of shillings . It announces that each juvenile visitor . will be presented with a Christmas offering . A giant pudding is to bo cut and eaten by those who " come in ' pudding time . " -A monster twelfth-cake is to be cut in due season . Mimes and inu : v . niers in motley arc to be seen ; a Christmas-tree there will be , of course . The Lord of Misrule is to wave his Christmas banner in the " Hall of Mirice-pic , " and Mr . Punch is to take Judy for an aerial voyage . Fairy balloons arc to soar in the transept by day , and a fairy ring of
magic-lanterns is to shine upon the illuminated pudding at dusk , amid the strains of a grand Christmas musical jtnnlc . As ire can be of more service to the Crystal Palace Company by one announcement than by half a dozen " reports , " we have given the above extract from their Christmas bill of fare . For further particulars our readers must inquire elsewhere , and by tl : is time we hope the town is covered with ample details . " Popularise ! popularise ! popularise ! " is our continued advice to the directors , "if you would continue to divide , divide , divide . "
f'ltlNCESS ' THKATI 5 E . Compressed into three acts and its story reduced to a thready incident in the cause of Oakly v . Oakly , Coleman ' s Jealous Wife was re-revived here on Wednesday last . Mr . and Mrs . Charles kean sustained the principal parts in an admirable manner The lending characteristic of Mr . Kean s performance was the well-bred absence of passion , though not of feeling , that wo might suppose as natural to a finished gentleman of his epoch us to one of the present time , and which we can nil Delievc would materially help to work up the nature of a jealous woman to the puroxysnissowon erf I ; portrayed by Mrs . Keau . The MajorOak I ,, oi 1 , i cast ' ' sentd an excellent an
' was Air . Cooperwho p ^ . . uncxaggcrated study of the old-school mi Mar gent Ionian ? very far removed from the epaulet- grotesque of tradition , whose function was usually la former days , and is sometimes , now-tt-days , to si J " a stick at the other characters , and f * * " ™™?! sir ! " Lord Trlnfid was well dressed and npjg played , but without much colour , by Mn UwjyJ Lacy . Mr . V . Matthews made no hingof A jnw llumt , and Mr . Snkcr no more of Sir ^ TOJ Mrs . Kean was ably and satisfactorily " ^ "jj ^ g Mrs . Winstanloy , as Lady Freclovo , and tlw « w «« W of tho comedy was-it could lmrdly 1 ifl o been otherwise , considering the perfect conccntwiujnei unflagging exertions of the three pnocipuJs-c * . tremely agreeable and well received .
Wo gather from on amusing bill before us , winch wo have no room to transcribe , that the Crystal Palace direction are busy upon tho preparation of Christmas revels . The fun commences on Monday , tho 27 th inst ., unUor tho management of the wellknown « nd , in his way , inexhaustibly fertile Dylcwynkyn . If ye remember well , the Christmas festival of last year w « s produced under Mr ; Nelson Lee , and wo are glad to sco tho cue torn kept up , or rather , introduced . ¦ There aro thousands , ay , tons of thousands , of parents in London , who will , if tho direction aro wise enough to give ample publicity to their intentions , rejoice at tho opportunity of nflbrd-Inff a day ' s Ohrlstmaslng to thoir youngsters , and of joining in it themselves ; and wo hopo , therefore , that tho said dircotora will , for the snko of their
sharenOTAT , KNOMSII OM 6 KA , OOVISOT <» £ « £ * \ Tho first of tho l ' ync and Harrison wnter seasons at this superb theatre was inaugurated on w J / by the production in tho most splendid an 1 ta « J nfanner of Mr . Balfo ' s now opora Satanolto , « l ° Zc ? thTot a- of tho last -nW . j rijji * Cazotto wrote his novel of tho ^''' . ;{ ' " r ' atnt subjeot has been a favourite one w > th m 0 ° , J ™^ tists , sceno-palntors , and ~ ISf ^ f lSIr « nce treated over and over Again . Its 1 m « « P 1 . j | pIli was , we boliove , sixteen years ago , at tno * a Theatre , in tho shape of a thrce-act pj ^ ° J w * ttfl « iri , by Mr . Stirling R ? " * AK % | cfl , prodigally overlaid with muaicnl nnd e on y as a mortally long and dreary opororco quo i acts , of which two , or at least ouq , sliouhl in
bo abolishpd . nhmf tints hftvo , Tho critic who remembers that librott « lf metaphorically , to dance In totters , *™\ ™ t 0 , u | t " poems" arc ' often subject to ¦« latort on ° ^ composors , stuge-inanagors , and ortlete , js ovu »
Untitled Article
THE CUYSTAfc PALACE . The result of the contest between the National Sunday League and the Lord ' s Day Observance Society , who have made the Sunday opening of the palace their battle-ground , is yet undecided . After the preliminary and dividend business of the halfyearly meeting was disposed of , and the chairman had congratulated his fellow shareholders upon having at last weathered the financial storm , a motion was made to rescind the resolution of last July , in virtue whereof the palace and grounds have lately been open to shareholders on Sunday afternoons . Each party professed to represent a majority of the proprietary , and , further , a very strong feeling it
throughout England . Both agreed , appears , to regard the Sunday opening to shareholders' as the thin end of the wedge whose thicker end might open the palace doors to the public on the Sabbath . The usual arguments , pro and com ., were gone into , of course , at some length , and though the Archbishop of Canterbury , and C 61 other ministers , and 900 shareholders , holding in the aggregate 62 , 000 shares , were claimed as allies by the " closing" party , unanimity seems as far off as ever . The chairman reminded the meeting that the company consisted of 230 , 000 shares , and that the House of Commons were only prevented by fear of 'their constituencies from a decision in favour of the question . The result of a division was as follows : —
For rescinding the resolution ... ... 81 Against -it ... 105 Majority ... ... 24 A ballot was formally demanded ; to take place at Sydenham , on Wednesday , January 12 , and three following days ; and stamped proxies were ordered to be sent , at " the expense of the company , to every shareholder . The battle has , therefore , still to be fought ; and it is to be hoped that all shareholderswhether in favour of Sunday opening or opposed to it— -will now speak out . or hereafter hold their peace . Such a perpetuation of discord and scandal as was due for a long time to the bitter struggle about
Sunday travelling in Scotland should surely not be permitted to obtain among sober Englishmen . Neither party may claim to have received direct Divine revelation upon the Sunday question . We may expect no such revelation . "Weown no infallible interpreter of the law and the tradition we have received . "We are gravely at issue upon the meaning of the commandment . Logic , and talent , and virtue are arrayed in favour of latitude as well as of strictness . Clrtirch and State action upon religious matters is at a deadlock . The question before us must therefore practically remain one of private judgment , and the majority of private judgments must be allowed to bo " public opinion , " , unless
we would push matters to extremes , must have the virtue of power . Stet pro ratione voltintaa must for once be admitted for their own sakes by both parties of shareholders . Let them cease from the useless and unworthy exchange of such heavy shots as " fanatic , " " Pharisee , " " infidel , " and ' freethinker , " and leave agitation to the outside public and the press , unless they would see that profit and loss accountwhich the speakers on both sides took such cheerful note of and put so prominently forward in the battle —appropriated to proxy stamps , Chancery suits , and other munitions of joint-stock war . When the onsuing ballot shall have been closed we cannot encourage them to make their palace the arena of fresh combats .
With others of our estate , we are in favour of a liberal—but not , we hope , irreligious—construction of the Divine law . Under the colour of Christian liberality wo are prepared to triumph or submit without acrimony , nnd can put up , in cither case , with the censure , pity , or prayers of our opponents . Wo sincerely believe that public opinion will bo found , with the present majority , in favour of " the thin end of tho wedge , " and avo hope , in time , to meet thousands on Sundays , where now but a few timorous individuals stand on their rights , and assert what we hold to bo the good principle .
'≪Clj£Fltrwi Flttft (Buttxfuiutlltvab ≪R ,
€ l ; tntr ^ nti b ( Bntttkmmtnin .. ?—
Untitled Article
- . . . . ¦ . ¦ , ¦ . . . . . ' ... ¦ . * ¦ . ¦ ¦ ¦ . w ^ 1414 THE LEADER , [ JSTo . 457 , December 24 1858 . I
-
-
Citation
-
Leader (1850-1860), Dec. 24, 1858, page 1414, in the Nineteenth-Century Serials Edition (2008; 2018) ncse2.kdl.kcl.ac.uk/periodicals/l/issues/vm2-ncseproduct2274/page/14/
-