NEW ENGRAVINGS.
THE line engraving, by JAMES WATT, of STOTHARD'S picture, "The Procession of the Flitch of Bacon," is just completed, and makes a very bright and pleasing print. This old custom, which gives celebrity to the town of Dunmow, is too well known to need description ; and its celebration would afford an amusing subject to the painter of hu- mour. In this view, indeed, it is still open to artists, for STOTHARD has availed himself of the poetic as well id the pictorial licence to in- vest it with an ideal character quite at variance with the reality. -He has made it a sort of pastoral procession, with lady-like shepherdesses, and swains of most staid and amiable aspect ; and the party, mounted. on horseback, and decked with garlands, looks like a bridal cavalcade. Take away the flitch of bacon, indeed, and it is one. But in spite of this want of humour and appropriate character, the design has those charms of grace and elegance of style which distinguish all SrornAan's works. His taste and fancy reconcile us to the anomaly ; but we cannot help regretting that the venerable painter had not treated the subject truly, and portrayed the happy couple seated in the old chair, and borne upon their neighbours' shoulders. It would have been far more interesting and amusing :than this gen- teel sophistication, graceful as it is. The heads want life and ex- pression; they have a lack-a-daisical air of goodness and superiority, which produces a sickly monotony in place of hearty merriment and good humour. The landscape background is the truest part of the picture, though the minstrels are characteristic. The engraving is ex- cellent in every respect; and the effect is very lively and agreeable. Plumps has engraved in mezzotint a clever picture, by TENANT, Of " The Smugglers' Repose ;" a characteristic scene, with good effect. A determined-looking fellow, of stalwart form, is leaning against a rock, looking across the sea towards the sun, and waiting impatiently for its setting ; an old man sits sleeping beside him, and a boy lies at his feet. The old man's attitude is natural and easy; that of the other rather theatrical. The engraving is good ; as is also another by the same artist, of an unmeaning female head, by J. Wool), entitled "The Day Appointed," for want of a better name. It is a bad plagiarism from LAWRENCE, which only calls for notice in order to state the fact. This young artist puts us quite out of hope of his becoming any other than a copyist and adapter of the works of others, nor does he even steal skilfully.
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