FINE ARTS.

BRITISH INSTIILTION.

Trio impression that this exhibition miss; prods:es Ira all wllo are con- versant with British art. is that of a medley or odds and cols Of the easel. A few slielit studies and small finished pletures by clever paint- ers, are scattered emongst a profusien ni Isis:used peribrmances by artists of mediocre Heats and o; crude e:11.rts by student; the promi- nent works liciog drafts from the last At-Wel:iv t•:I.i4i:ion: :tielt as 4.. The Murder of the lonti amx," by I I; 4.Tor: : ; " M-Ciass's " Vicar of Wakefield:" and otla by KNI(.11T, I.%%! . PATTEN, &c. The "Miriam '' of Wu:m:4m (1`.).1 i,r gaye a notke swat:. ■reeks ago in :lliatthing of t.liQ Ccr1,1;11 SCI1COI, :Old his " in the Wilderness." t Isse a cotes, sl misedos, are the only great efforts at Italy themes in thes the,e are by a foreigner. Perhaps we ought to except tt

tied," (4 I IQ by A. EL:noun-a praisemorthy attetapt it a yt tint: proutisinx artist, though the subjeet is beyond iii; powers: St.

John Preaching," (2260 by idissfa., ofeet is

given to the scene, though the '•.dm..Cs st.::::1:neut ;hese :ea ,utain the sublime heieht of id; great argument.

Of die few I /1::•ntNs ■vlikh tell tstory, none ; as-,ss the :tven:r iWer- est that arre..ts the attention IIIL:11■011 linty just enough exl•rc.-

not sabslactory. 't ne Naval Pertormers, (20 by r

un--a damsel seated in the bay-wir0.ov: oc an old mansion sileaciu:; the mpe of her minstrel to li ten to the swains of her canary-bird; " The I,ost Game," (102„) by 1, 't,PE-a lot er iosing Ids heart and his

pine of chess to the feis ersaiere who is silage to tlaseleneue ;

'Door of St. Mark's, (8.10,) bi the same-- a sweet little girl Isiadini, into church her itIiud gramianse: and the " Scene from the e la,ming of the Shrew, (s62,) by P.ist:LIS CON': err, where Lucentio, disguised as the Tutor, reveals himself to Biasses, belong to this class. C'oweEn's painting is in the pure and srlid style of Wvairr, chaste and rich in colour, and of finished II- siyl,tion, vet as freely as it is delicately handled : this voting artist has .n, a rapid stride, and attained a sure footing of exeunt:se:es 1- A Deed: Family," (65.) by W. SIMSON, nbvwrim hut a [:soup of 1e is n plete picture. and painted with remarkaliks .ree and trath in a bo,..1 style : we must object, however, to the blackness a the shadows and the opacity of the colouring generally-blemishes that we have not till now ohsnrs t.sel in the works of this talented :moue: painter, and hope he will son!: get rid of. Yost llo4sT has subdued his German extravagance in depicting the scene from Ivanhoe, where Front vie Deur orders the slaves to throw Isaac of York on the fire, (:14o): though still too Fuselisque his style is full of energy- and pesos The Supper at lloilterwood," from the stone story, is cleverly sketched, with a sees 1 effect of fire-ligh". by J. 61mm:ter, (4114). Anodic:. subject j'rom Scott's novels 1E1, liven treated with feeling by ,lonN Deans Visiting her Sister Effie in Prison," (:39:3): ne:itet of 1:1:1,, expresses intense suffering, hut Jeanie's grief Is mini ilia, and ills painting, moreover, is flimsy and coarse. " linogs a in the (-.'0,) by J. lloa toes, though the figure is or the hinges and the isetsa ure

what formal, conveys a sense of repose, and evinces n poetic feeling.

In won SUBJECTS, IN knisTint is the most sueees,tul : " Antiema- tam," (1 I )-a hungry urchin. spoon in hand, devouring with his eyes the pie that the baker has brought home for dinner :nisi " The Rat-trap," (36.) are perfect of their kind. The Moment of Victory," (345,) by Fusspot-a parcel of boys driven from the scene of a battle between two dunghill-cocks by the owner of the vanquished bird-looks unfinished, all except the two combatants. " The nappy Couple," (5,) by the same painter-a cobler and his wife enjoying a mut-Akin of whisky- has not this defect, and the old couple are full of life and character. " The Dairy-maid's Tale," (4)-two girls chatting iu a cowhouse ; mud "The Valentine," (105)-the same pair conning a valentine-by C.LATEll, are deficient in the distinctness of character and look essen- tial to the interest of such subjects. KIDD runs into the opposite ex- treme, and overcharges the expression of his faces ; as may be seen in " Interruption," (342,) a red-hot beadle laying hold of a boy who in his fright has dropped the savory dinner he was carrying home from the oven. "Doctor Sangrado and the Licentiate," (104,) by 11. S. Smrrit, is in the spirit of Le Sage : the bottle-nose of the patient seen through the drinking-glass looks like a "preparation" of morbid anatomy. " Pastime," 0110 is a delightful sketch by W. D. KEN- NEDY, of Italian rustics dancing: the lightness and grace of the dancers, and the animation and gayety of their looks and air, are quite inspir- ing ; the style has the elegance of WATTEAU, with a more cordial sense of enjoyment. Of the STUDIES OF CHARACTER, "VillatriCe Sorrentino,'' (16)-an Italian peasant with a distaff-by INSKIPP, isthe most attractive for harmonious colour and sweet expression : the painting is slight and opaysts nail the figure is inlaid in the buckle:11mnd, last there is a charm of sir.Iplieity anal truth about it quite irresistible. Near it is a study of a female head, by Mrs. W. CARPENTER, (23,) with a lovely expression, delicately th.isheal, and glowing with life and rich transparent colour ; but it does not catch the eye so readily as the colder Imes and opaque tints of INSI;Ipp's sketch. In the other corner of this end of the .North yowls is a stmly. (Irmo of feminine beauty and bona:emit, by ROTH.. WELL the downcast eyes are veiled by their lids, and a blush of modest sensibility. tinges the cheeks. Tlw painting is solid and pure, and h arrangsment of colour beautiful ; the flesh tints set off by a simple while dress, and their roseate bloom subdued by a scarlet flower. Clot e to i; is the 1, kasintr picture of two ladies in an opera-Nix, that the artist had in the last academy Exhibition ; and the comparison is highly advantageous to the fresh production. • lad as tura to scverer stthjects. " The Exile Chief," (2570 by W. Bewis.e. is a noble study of :a head, in which ply siesl grandeur predo- initiates ; evincing elevated feeling and masterly power, from which smnething greater may be expected. A study of a Jew Rabbi, (178,) by A. MotrroN, reminds us of RtramnANnT'S Jews, but only because of the similarity of subject and the strong reality cif the representation: the head breathes with life and character, and the hand-. folded over the brocaded robe tempt one to grasp them. " Shylock,- (9u,) by A. (hangs, is a finely painted head, but a misnomer ; as likewise is "The Prophet Ezekiel," (27$,) by I [Ansi; though we (sestina extend the same praise to its flimsy execution. The Cousins," (114,) by J. The Sisters," (I 42,) by Mrs. J. ROBERTSON, "'1'1112 Little Pet,- (3910 by M. CLAN:Fox; and " Old Woman Enitting," (30,) by Mrs. Semen', are tnere:y clever portraits. Anumg this (-lass we must include also the at;tplisite miniatures in oil by GILL on the screen of the Secretary's desk, (305 and and the larger and coarser ones of S. J. (:A9 and 331.) Among the Sees le Pictua Traxen's prismatic jel d'eall, with a fliem of lit tie ;.aosii, eppeers like an insubstantiel and dazzling vision ananig the seders' ie.:lilies around it : "The Fountain of Fallacy," (58, ) is tie appropsime mane bun this finteid1 problem of ehromatography. no oite line ereek of its waters of,ener than TuRNL■1---11e wiai he had duet:_ lest his thirst : the distant landscape is beautiful, and. as a mere piece of colouring, time picture is wonderful. What :t contrast, and how welcome a to tarn to the opposite side and Stu') at The Style," 0160 by Cal:wicK-11111, Of those delicious nooks ncstling in the by- trays of English villages : the hethres and trees are bright with the f.rettli !.2.rt..Q11 of early smellier, and the sunlight dapples the shady lane as line across •• the style " to the tield-path up to the lit whose spire is seen p iI;ting above the distant trees: the elk:tiling of the yet free, and the coolness is refisssising, On either side i■icture are two more romantic views, one At Ka- - t t 4.) :H. ,a her "I'rossing a Brook," (1)1'); painted whim equal bit with the greeter 1..ece resporett by the enlaj: there is alto a scatna on the -Yorkshire ne.drs, (e3,) by Cans- -sr!: -eel: a Ct....see:lel ferze and heath. over v:weli the shilling lights of a el s.: ,y shy are in the act Of passine:: yoa fancy the:- will vanish every t. 1.iti:s green landseapes ars siill ism colds and hard in their truth : :mess and freshness. aril even :..alive'.., are not in- .',',-111111. Mmospheres as Cness..ies's eieteres evidence: why then in painting nature as if the sun had no I warmth This defect is partly owing to the want of see, for " The Warren Bank; (35,) where the gr. rrani is sere slightly sinet....1,,..1 in : and "Old iIridge at Lynedoch," (:4.) the kin:mess of whiA owing to the painter's touch : iu a more delicately penel:led ,,,1 1110 river Yoe, Devonshire, (74,) the coldness is teu esi seises and in A ts ye:. from tattare,tilt' minute painting Io eel the otter Ilan has cmcrn..,1 a: 11:e brook, has had . improving the ci:.„.ct, though the dead trim!: of a tree eolc.nriei,; ;th.1:.:..t to blael.m,. 11...:t V I:, .1dr,dre .1. • is truth of LEE'S painting, ftcl the idity oi' iris II-lulling aml the Held:nets of his atmsplsee• : lint 1,i, call-life

Oismites, " lecask and Clargany Teal." (52.) and Perch," the volouu' the olsjeets prevents this chilly ei'esi.

t e's series of viors of Helabran,L, interest arising from the as,:oviatious that ho • it is >.imgnlar to nh..eiyve the light look of the l V. I erfect light it is said we at: indebted for the

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elVects. 'Pte set e.:•1:ists of an -wer- dimmed. The change is still more felt in the. little picture of a lady sitting in a balcony looking down on the Rialto, (73) t the two little sketches of.Venice, on the screen, (317 and 322,) are more fresh and sparkling. STARK has several of his timidly-handled woody scenes ; of which No. 3 is the freest, and (92) "Going to the Fair," the most extensive -too much so for his minute and feeble style, which is better adapted to more limited views, such as "Scene at Nottingham, Kent," (60)'; the effect of distance and atmosphere, and of sunlight pouring through clouds, is imitated with great truth, however, in the large landscape. STANLEY, on the contrary, is facile and dextrous even to mechanical- ness in his " View in Sussex ; the approach of Autumn," (269); a similar defect gives hardness to a view in Trentham Park, (175,) by E. PRICE ; and to one of Saltzburg, (307,) by P. H. ROGERS ; while LINTON'S Windsor Castle, (251), is like scene-painting.

CHAMBERS'S marine view of Rotterdam, (413,) is a masterly sketch, full of bustle and animation, with the hazy warmth of a morning sun ; the painting is slight and yet heavy. WILSON'S seas are too crude in their whiteness ; but his view on the Zuyder Zee, off Amsterdam, (355,) is an improvement. A view near Rye, (150,) by J. TuonPk, is the most effective coast scene in the Gallery; and the twilight of sun- set is imitated with striking truth : the colouring is opaque, however, and the details are too much sacrificed to breadth. " A Remembrance," (147,) by ROTIIWELL, is a sweet sunny beach scene of some Italian shore ; and 247 and 267 are two picturesque bits from the coast of Genoa, by HOBDAY IIORSLEY.

Though as a painter of animals EDWIN LANDSEER is last mentioned, his unequalled excellence raises hint to the highest rank ; he depicts not only the outward form, but the spirit and characterof brutes : this mastiff in his kennel, with his fore-paws over the edge, (119,) looks as if he had been roused up by the approach of an intruder whom he 'regards with a watchful scrutiny ; his calm steady gaze contrasting. with the sharp, spiteful eagerness of the little white wire-haired ter- rier, all eyes and nose, that seems ready to spring out upon you. Both animals, however, are bodiless. The miniature profile of a cow's head in "The Dairy-maid," (3s5,) is inimitable for the perfect adaptation of the touch to the realization of nature : in this particular LANDSEEa'S cattle surpass those of SIDNEY CoocEn, whose pencilling, free and delicate as it is, does not represent the substance of the skin so palpably as LANnsuen's-see 403, " The Watering-place," by SID- NEY COOPER ; to which we refer as one of the artist's best works, and where the character of the animals is admirably discriminated. LAND- SEER never puts a wrong touch or one too many, though sometimes he puts one too few : this absence of labour, and the living look produced by it, render his animals so superior to those of the Dutch painters. A bitch and pups, (186,) by CUARLES LANDSEER, is a work of pro- mise : the look of the mother at the forward little pup crawling up to attract her notice, is very characteristic. LANCE'S "English Fare," a triad of pictures in one frame, (263,) of fish, fruit, and game, is the perfection of still-life painting ; with a glow of colour and breadth of effect surpassing the Dutch painters. There are several pictures of merit, though of a minor degree, that we had marked for notice ; but we must be content to call the visiter's attention to the number of pretty little bits of scenery hanging iu the door-ways, near the ground, and in odd corners, by VICKERS, JOS Sr,S lit:NCAN, JETSCM, HASSELL, &c. Many of them are valued at a few guineas only; as may be seen in the priced catalogue, that we were very glad to find open for public inspection on the table.