PANORAMA OF TREPORT.
The visit of the Queen of England to the King of the French, at the Chateau d'Eu, was too remarkable an event to be overlooked by Mr. BURFORD as an attractive subject for a panorama : he has accordingly produced a very lively and effective picture of the scene at Treport on that memorable occasion. The point of time chosen is the instant after the landing of the Queen and Prince. The royal party is represented approaching the pavilion erected on the quay for the reception of the illustrious isiters : Queen VICTORIA is escorted by the Queen of the French ; and Louis PHILIPPE, with his sister Madame ADELAIDE on his arm, escorts Prince ALBERT; the rest of the Royal Family of France following. The tasteful preparations for the debarkation—the King's yacht and the platforms decorated with flowers and flags—the array of soldiery and the state equipage—the barges with their smart crews and the fishing-boats filled with peasants in their picturesque costumes—and the crowds of spectators animated by the excitement of the moment—altogether present a scene of gayety and bustle, in itself striking, apart from any political interest. Nor is Treport altogether an unpicturesque place: the fine old church, erected on a shoulder of the cliff, rising above the row of neat-looking houses, forms a charac- teristic background to the land view ; a range of low sand-hills between two points of the bold Shore allowing a peep at the Cathedral and Chateau d'Eu in the extreme distance. Looking towards the tea the pier thronged with peasants and decorated with flags, and the steamers and sailing-vessels in the offing returning the salutes of the battery on shore, complete the view ; this portion affording by its comparative onietude an ooseeable relief and effective contrast to the splendour of the pageant on land. The subject has lwen vbry skilfully treated by Mr. Boman]) and his coadjutor Mr. SELOU8 ; and the painting is executed with vigour and freedom, and no lack of finish. The fishing-boats are powerfully painted, and artfully grouped so as to combine with other features in producing a pleasing composition ; the effects of sunlight and reflection an the water also are vividly depicted.
Previous page
