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Ma. H. C. SELOITS'S pictures of "Jerusalem in her Grandeur" and "Jerusalem in her Fall" are now on view at the Gallery in Waterloo- place. In the first, Mr. Selous aims at conveying an idea of the actual aspect of the city of the three hills in the days of our Saviour. To attain this end he has carefully consulted every available and reliable authority. A morning sun illumines the ancient city which stretches out far away at the feet of the beholder, who is supposed to view it from the western side of the Mount of Olives. The Temple with its gates, courts, and towers, and resplendent with gold and marble, is its most conspicuous feature. Herod's three towers, his palace and amphitheatre—the Proctorium—the Tower of David, and the Garden of Gethsemane, are all shown, with many other buildings and places of biblical and historical interest. The fore-
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ground s occupied with numerous figures embodying the incident of Christ's triumphal entry into Jerusalem. The second picture is, of course, in direct contrast to the former, and depending as it does rather on facts than on legendary research for its interest, is more artistically and thoroughly complete. The point of view is much the same in both works—the lines of the landscape have undergone little change, but where the Temple once stood now rises the Mosque of Omar. The palaces and towers of former days are supplanted by narrow and deserted streets. English travellers wrangle in dispute with an Arab escort about the price of his services on the spot once trodden by the feet of the Redeemer. Both pictures are large in size, being some twelve feet long exclusive of their frames. Though in painting they partake somewhat of the "panoramic" quality, they yet are fa of able and skilful workmanship, and more than average ability. Great labour and research, and much time, have beende- voted by Mr. Selous to these paintings. The long perspective lines of the buildings, the general arrangement and composition, are very ably managed. The colour is pleasing, and the effect of the one scene is brilliant without garishness, while the sombre tones of the other are free from blackness or opacity. A small pencil drawing of "Jerusalem," as seen coming from Bethany, by Sir David Wilkie, which hangs in the same gallery, strongly corroborates the truth of Mr. Selous's delineation of the present aspect of the fallen city. Both pictures are in process of engraving by hfr. Charles Mottram. With all students of scriptural history and topography the prints will be deservedly popular.
Detailed drawings for the International Exhibition Building of 1862 are being shown for a few days at the offices of the Society, in West Strand. They consist of a ground and block plan—a rough sketch under one of the domes showing the intersection of the nave and transept, a view looking down the nave, and the machinery department. The whole are designed by Captain Fowke, RE. The view of the elevation does not promise much either in the way of architectural beauty or fitness. A low, long, arcaded block of build- ing, flat roofed, and with a dome at each end, may possess the charm of novelty, but is certainly unpicturesque. The original idea was to have a large central dome. This would have given a certain degree of balance and unity to the whole, but it was found the expense attendant on its erection would have been far greater than was justi- fiable in a building which in all probability will be only temporary in character. Under these circumstances, the suppression of the smaller domes would certainly be desirable. If, at the same time, a roof of higher pitch could be added, it would tend to do away with the present monotonous uniformity of the building..
The annual picture exhibition at the Portland Gallery, opens on Monday next, the private view taking place to-day. The show of work is neither above nor below the average of former years. De- ferring criticism until next week, I may mention some of the more remarkable pictures that are to be seen there. In the first room the most prominent is by Mr. Calderon, in which he breaks new ground with a scriptural subject—" Mary Magdalene announcing the Resur- rection to John and Peter." Mr. Russell has a single figure, subject with a moonlight effect from Temlyson's "Eve of St. Agnes. .Mr. Smallfield sends two pictures—one of a refractory urchin, who, re- fusing to say his lesson, is subjected to an aggravating course of bread and water—the other shows a pair of lovers indulging in a twilight tirte-a-tete. Mr. Marks, still faithful to the portrayal of red- nosed clowns, furnishes a Shakesperian study of Constable Elbow. A picture by Mr. Houghton, of a group of wandering street dancers surrounded by a motley London crowd, will attract, by its humour, great feeling for character and thorough originality. Mr. R. S. Lander
andilkix. Bell Smith each contribute two pictures. One of the mantel- pieces is occupied with a caricature by Miss Claxton, which bears on the much-vexed questions of "Female Labour," and the "Rights of Woman." Two studies of heads and a view of "Vesuvius" have a name appended to them new to most exhibition-goers—that of Mr. J. H. Bland. Rustic character and the domestic affections are repre- sented by a large tribe, at the head of whom stand Mr. Rossiter and Mr. C. J. Lewis. Mr. Fitzgerald disports himself as usual in fairy- land. The strength of the exhibition lies in landscape—Messrs. H. Moore, Davis, Gray, Peel, Hulme, and the prolific Williams family being its chief supporters. In marine views, Mr. Hayes is the prin- cipal contributor. On Saturday last, a collection of English pictures, the property of a gentleman in the country, was disposed of by Messrs. Christie, at their rooms in Xing-street. Sir E. Landseer, as usual, obtained the highest price, his picture of the "Deer in the Lake," struggling with two hounds, fetching 1000 guineas. A very fine work, by P. F. Poole, R.A., "Lear endeavouring to recal Cordelia to Life,' full of poetic feeling, and very inventive in arrangement of colour, realized the low price of 260 guineas. Another work of Mr. Poole's, from thc Faene Queene, "Sir Guyon led by the Palmer to the Bower of Bliss," was knocked down at 180 guineas. Other lots were, "Bris- tol from Meton Hill," W. Muller, 195 guineas ; "The Dance," W.
E. Frost, A.RA., 101 guineas ; "The Cotter's Sunday Morning," J. Philip, R.A., 245 guineas; "Warrior Poets contending in Song,"
F. R. Pickersgill, R.A., 180 guineas ; "View of Edinburgh," D. Roberts, R.A., 250 guineas ; " Jerusalem," by the saine_painter, 380 eas ; "Two Horses, emblematic of Protection and Free Trade," wings in pastel, by Sir E. Landseer, R.A., 260 guineas ; "Wait- ing for the Ferry," I. F. Lewis, A.R.A., 150 guineas. The total amount realized by this collection was upwards of 5000/.
DRY Ponvr.
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