TURNER'S ENGLAND.
Mr. TURNER, the Royal Academician, has executed a series of views in different parts of England and Wales, which are now exhibited (gratis) at the Egyptian Hall. The intention of Mr. CHARLES HEATH, to whom the drawings belong, is to have them all engraved for a work illustrative of the country, and several are already executed. The whole of these beautiful views are in water colours, and per- formed in a style that instantly recalls to the recollection the masterly touch of our English CLAUDE. They are too numerous to be men- tioned individually, but there are some of them which we cannot pass by. The view of "Eton College" is one of the happiest efforts of the whole. Other artists have frequently taken the same building at the same point of view, but they have forgotten to add that fine sentiment which is rarely absent in TURNER'S productions, and which in this in- stance is more than usually conspicuous. He has chosen that point of the day when the sun is just behind the huge gothic gable of the building ; and the consequence is, that this ancient' receptacle of clas- sic learning is lighted up with a sort of dazzling halo, that gives to it a feature in reality which its gone-by reminiscences have established in every mind " that loves learning for learning's sake, and doctrine because it is good." Nor does this rest only with the building : in the foreground the transparent Thames speeds on its course, and its reflective bosom gives a somewhat diffused and yet faithful copy of the edifice that adorns its banks ;—the same crown of glory also is there ; and that very spirit which illumines the real pile is still in attendance to give character and significance even to its shadow.
" Lancaster Sands." This is pleasant to those who value the artist, because what there is in the picture of excellence belongs to him and not to his subject. Dreary, lengthened sands, and almost interminable sameness, was but a poor subject to work upon ; but Mr. TURNER has invested even these with an interest sufficient to detain the passenger to dwell upon the painting. " Okehampton Castle" perhaps pleased us the least of the whole collection. We do not think that the painter has chosen the happiest point of view: if he had taken it from the road that leads to Launceston instead of from the Moor, he would have had a much finer subject to work upon. It is true, he would not have got such apparent height for the mound on which the castle stands; but this would have been compensated a hundred times over by having the Oke dashing and brawling from stone to stone immediately beneath, instead of merely catching a glimpse of it stealing away in the distance. • "Launceston." This is another instance of the artist improving a bad subject. Defend us from Launceston and all Cornish boroughs ! By putting the town too far off to be able to distinguish its ugliness, and by making the castle too distant for the poor monotony of its cir- cles to be traceable, Mr. TURNER has succeeded in producing a plea- sant picture ; but, in good truth, 'tis the scenery, and not the town, that does the business.
"Stonehenge." Here is another fine specimen of the poetical feel- ing of the painter. What a prodigious mass of overbearing clouds hang around this unexplained pile ! How unhewn, unformed, and misty are these fragments of a world gone by! The whole tone of the picture tells a tale of something uncommon—almost unearthly. The sheep, however, and the shepherd; and the shepherd's dog, are intruders, every one : what business have they in a place where every thing should be consecrated to the memory of subjects withered but not for- gotten ? The sheep should be pounded, the dog hanged, and the shep- herd sent to Salisbury Jail, for trespassing against the law—of good taste.
"Alnwick Castle." What does this melancholy moon-lit picture here, amongst bright sunshines, gay colourings, and nature's holiday work ? And yet, though it be out of place, it is not the less welcome. Till now, it had been maintained that TURNER could live but in the glare of colours. Let those that argue so, go look at " Alnwick Castle ;" they will find it to be solemn without affectation, arranged without labour, and impressive without severity. The room contains impressions of such of the pictures as are already engraved; and they appear to be executed in a manner to do justice to the labour bestowed by Mr. TURNER upon the water-colour originals. The work which Mr. C. HEATH has undertaken, is one deserving ot the highest praise ; and to secure his success, he has brought into the field co-operators of the highest skill.
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