MR. CLAUDET AT THE COLOSSEUM.
Mr. Claudet has opened new rooms for the taking of portraits by the daguerreotype, at the COlosseum; a building which offers peculiar con- veniences for the purpose, in its open roof, its removal from the denser at- mosphere of the central streets, and in its being the resort of holyday- makers—a class of people at leisure and in fit mood to sit for their portraits. The rooms are very commodious, affording every facility both to operators and viAters. The collection of photographic portraits comprises some very fine specimens, especially a few of a large size. This is a branch of photo- graphy which may be further cultivated with great profit. As the size is increased, the wonderful delicacy of the working, the perfect modelling df the forms by means of the light and shade, the breadth and perfection of the chiaroscuro, are more fully apparent. It is no paradox to say that the exquisite minuteness of photography is more obvious in the larger works; while its force and vigour are proportionably developed. At the same time, a more truthful and picturesque softness is attained than in more concen- trated pictures. Of course the greater cheapness will always secure a general preference for the smaller portraits; but to those who can afford it the larger size is well worth the larger sum. As a question of art, the fur- ther use of these large portraits is highly interesting. For the prosecution of improvements the new rooms appear to be well calculated.
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