FINE ARTS.
SOCIETY OF BRITISH ARTISTS, SUFFOLK STREET.
THE Spring Exhibition of Pictures by living British Artists, at the Gallery in Suffolk Street, opens to the public on Monday. The pri- vate view was to-day ; which being too late for our first edition, we were permitted to take a peep on " varnishing-day :" and as we looked round the gayly-tinted walls, we could not help wishing for some intellectual varnish that would bring out the ideas of artists more vividly. Having no catalogue, each picture made its impression inde- pendently of any association of title or name ; and only interested in so far as it told its own story. Whether or not it was owing to this circumstance that the general effect of the exhibition was less striking than usual, we will not say: let us give it the benefit of the doubt. Certain it is, there are fewer salient points this year ; for though there is a considerable amount of talent and ingenuity in the mass of pic-
tures, it is so scattered that the coup is feeble.
HAYDON exhibits two historical pictures,—Christ raising the Widow's son ; and the young Achilles throwing off his female attire and assuming the arms of the warrior. This last is a very spirited -conception; and both are powerfully painted. Both HavooN and CLINT (who lately returned his diploma of Associate to the Royal Academy) have given us their notions of Falstaff. CLINT'S is too -much like an actor: HAYDON'S is a Silenus, and certainly the best idea of Falstaff we have seen embodied in a picture—ultra-vigorous perhaps. Indeed the whole scene is congenially imagined ; though it 48 sketched in a villanously rough manner. The Poins and Prince Hal in CLINT'S picture are much better than the Falstaff. A large picture of Wet Tyler, by the Messrs. Foggo, does not justify its great size by its power : it looks like a French version of the subject. Wat is too like a study from an actor. Under this is a large view of Jerusalem, by LLSTON. It reminds one of MARTIN'S pictures ; but, less startling, it has more of probable reality, and is carefully painted. HURLSTONE has a couple of Roman peasant boys ; very characteristic, and cleverly sketched. Two or three of Buss's comic extravaganzas elicited a passing laugh ; and a little picture of a wife watching by the bed-side of a sick husband, touched us with a more serious feeling: we know the style, but forget the painter's name. There are a great many bright and pretty landscapes, that show perceptions of the truth and beauty of nature in her most pleasing aspects ; and also several masterly sea-pieces. Among these, we recognized the style of TENNENT, EARL, ALLEN, VICKERS, SHAYEB, STARK, WILSON, and CHAMBERS.
There are many clever portraits too, by IVYATT, CLINT, Huai.- STONE, MIS. CARPENTER, LONSDALE, Ste. We noticed in particular, a capital likeness of the worthy Radical, Dr. Epps, by CHATFIELD ; and a charming resemblance of Miss Mordaunt, in which we were glad to recognize MIDDLETON'S pencil. We shall give a more detailed notice of the exhibition next week.
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