FINE ARTS.
THE 11.01E&I, AVAT1E7KY 3PLEtTTOWS.
'Pam result of the reeerd elections at the Royal Academy, which we men- tioned last week, is one of those matters on which it is difficult to confine oneself to announcement "pure =Ii.erople." We have just passed theyear Since a correspondent called our attention to the vexatious-delay imposed by Academic rules in such rases: the long-deferred-eventuality is an event at last—and what an event I it is no easy thing for the mind to settle down to any one of the four selections-and say " This is the best." Is the hest that'll Mr. Weekes? a,geatleman who hasminlived his promise to do something, but who se- mains always an excellent sculpturesque .modeller; or of Mr. Boxall ? who wus.to be airmessful Annual artist, and -has bean for some years :be- fore last Exhibition as him as one of his awn backgrounds ; or of Mr. Cooke ? againstochom we have as little to say as for him in any its' tin- glighed sense. Welmow not which of these three elections it is 'easiest to swallow; but we do know that the fourth and last is hardest. Yet,, while-we h;ok °atm Amite of Mr. Stone as the most objectionable, sre think it also the least wajustifiable • for there is about this gentleman a specialty, which was once an originality. Where.are wet) look—dawn to what soundings to diva—,for our next batch of Associates ? Mr. Foggo might have= Chance, only that he is—or believes himself—an historical,painter. Or we could ventured with some confidence to hack Mr. Deans, but for the jaundiced or varicoloured eye with which Mr. Knight must regard him. We believe in but one solution-of the arnomaliee of this last Academy problem: there are a few reformers among the forty, and .nothing ds like-dead weight for tounteraeting live energy. Meanwhile, one of the most "advanced " signs of the times shoots meteorlike from 'the provinces across 'the London fog which encrusts Trafalgar Square. The fifty pound prize 'has been awarded by the Di- rectors of the Liverpool Academy to Mr. W. Heiman Ilmatfor hispicture of Valentine rescuing Sylvia from .Proteus.
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