FINE ARTS. NEW PORTRAITS.
Wiersosr GORDON'S whole-length portrait of Dr. Cam.strus the Scottish preacher, exhibited at the Royal Academy last season, has been engraved in mezzotint, by Lenox, with great care; and it makes a finished and effective print. The characteristic expression of the face, however, has been so softened down that the individuality of the original likeness is lost. The painter, perhaps, told the truth too well. We guess there is too much foundation for the limners' complaint that the vanity of their "sitters" obliges them to flatter in order to please. A medallion profile of Queen VICTORIA, modelled by Heritv WrIGALt, and engraved by BATE'S alleged improvement on Cena.as, process of medallic engraving, conveys the truest resemblance of her Majesty's features of any profile extant. The effect of relief in this method of engraving is very striking ; but so cold and lifeless a mode of representing a living person is not congenial to the fancy. This specimen of the powers of BATE'S Anaglyptograph strikes uses not so entirely perfect as an improvement upon the invention of another is expected to be.
A sketch of the celebrated German physiologist, Professor Mums, of Berlin, by SAMUEL LAURENCE, has been lithographed by Louisa Colossus, in colours, to imitate the effect of the original drawing in black, red, and white chalk, on tinted paper. Allowing for a little seeming timidity of the fair draughtswoman—which is excusable in a first attempt of' this kind—it is quite successful. The effect is so agreeable, and the quality of the colours so like an artist's sketch, that the additional red tint will probably be introduced in prints wherever it is found in the original : it gives warmth and richness to the drawing.
Previous page
