19 MARCH 1859, Page 31

lint Arts.

Mr. Bell thus minutely describes the Guard's Memorial to be erected after his design in Waterloo Place. The front of the pedestal some eleven feet from the ground "will be occupied by three soldiers,—a Grenadier, a Fusilier, and a Coldstream of her Majesty's brigade of Guards, in their full marching costume as they fought at Inkerman. These figures will be about eight feet six inches in height. Their respective flags will be behind them : thus altogether forming a pyramidal group. These flags rest against a second granite pedestal, on which, and above the flags, will stand a figure of Honour, with her arms extended wide, and in her hands and on her arms will be wreaths of honour. This figure will be ten feet high. The inscription beneath her will be, Honour to the Brave' and be- neath the Guards, Tria juncta in uno,' the motto of the brigade. The four figures will be cast out of brass cannon taken at Sebastopol, and given by Government. Behind on the near face, will be a pile of actual broken Russian guns, burst and mutilated, as they were found in Sebas- ' topol, which, I believe, is a new feature in a monument. , On the Sides will be introduced a slight degree of decoration in the sorts of sunk re- lievo used by the Egyptians, who were so accustomed to deal with large surfaces of granite.

The Water Colour Painters of the Old Society, headed by Mr. F. Tay- ler' their president, have petitioned the Treasury for independent space, on the site of Burlington Gardens, where they may erect a gallery at their own cost." The petition is favourably regarded, and will doubt- less be acceded to.

Mr. I. F. Lewis's "Harem Life," so generally commended at the Water Colour Exhibition in 1867, together with two of Turner's pic- tures of the period of 1841, before his absolute obedie101. to the delights of his unrestrained imagination, are amongst the seleobion from Mr. Windus's gallery, which Messrs. Christie and Manson put up to auction on the 19th.

An important collection lent by Mr. Matthew Uzielli, of antique and other engraved gems and cameos, is now to be seen at the South Ken- sington Museum, together with the public collections. It comprises nearly 600 specimens, many of great excellence and value, including upwards of 350 of those recently dispersed at the sale of the Hertz col- lection. There are examples of the best periods of Greek and Greco-Roman work, as well as specimens of the cinquo-cento in settings of the time. The reception or loan of fine works of art from private persons who are willing to give the public the benefit of seeing and estimating their collections, is an honourable characteristic of the Department at South Kensington.

Under the charge of Mr. J. Wright, F.S.A. Roman walls and tesselated pavements have been opened at Wroxeter, the ancient Uri- conium : part of a hypocaust has been traced, and the north side of the Old Roman Wall of the town has been excavated to its foundation.

A correspondent of the Times states that the three portraits lately ac- quired by the Trustees of the National Portrait Gallery at a price of 650 guineas, were bought in the first instance by Mr. Graves, of Pall Mall, for sixty-eight guineas. The increase in the cost may be well called startling. But worse, still, he affirms that the "undoubted portrait of Mary, Countess of Pembroke," passed for a considerable time, and was always accepted as the likeness of Queen Anne of Denmark !

The collection of Ancient Chinese porcelain made by Mr. Fortune, the celebrated tea-planter, realized nearly 9401., under the hammer of Messrs. Christie and Manson, on Thursday. The pale Turquoise pieces fetched good prices. A bottle, 164 inches high, 33/. 10s. ; another fine specimen with feathered ribs and ornaments in relief, 751. ; and a crackle vase, with ornaments in circles and elephant's tusk handles, carried off 611.

A visit to the atelier of the German painter, Overbeck, who inhabits the Cenci palace at Rome, with a gossipping genial criticism of his prin- cipal works, opens the Lath number of the Gazette des Beaux Arts. There is the same effective style about the illustrations, betraying the artistic taste of the editor. A chapter on Niello work introduces an en- graving of a rare Niello impression, which is in the possession of M. Charles de Langalerie. The next article on the sculptor Hubac, compa- ratively unknown to English amateurs, is enriched with a print of a charming has relief in marble of Hebe and the Eagle. There can be no question as to the conscientious care with which this addition- to the illustrated literature of the French Capital has, from its first issue. been superintended.