23 MAY 1835, Page 19

A mezzotint engraving, from a picture by F. P. STEPHANOFF,

of the Trial of Algernon Sidney, intended as a companion print to that of the Trial of Lord William Russell, by GEORGE Harma, has just been completed by BROMLEY. The original picture we have not seen; but the design, as it appears in the engraving, is by no means equal to the clever picture of .HAYTER. The scene is not impressive. The • The beautiful coloured copies of some of the pictures itt the Dulwich GaJlery away take their place os the walla as duisheil drawings. Curies of the rctittesis, the National Gallery in this style would be popular, it well dOttei attitude and look of Sidney are theatrical and affected : the faces are feeble in character and expression ; and the spectators have the air of idle loungers rather than of anxious witnesses to the trial of a patriot for his life. STEPHANOFF has neither grasp of mind nor vigour of style for a solemn and soul-stirring subject like this. It reminds one of the picture it is intended to pair with, in its least meritorious points. Many of the heads are said to be likenesses of some of the eminent men of the time ; but if that of Sidney be a criterion for judging of the rest, they are not very characteristic. We have before us a lithograph by Hoye of a medallion profile of Algernon Sidney, from the impression of an ancient seal in possession of one of his descendants ; and the energy of his strongly-marked countenance, so forcibly expressed in the gem-engraving, is exchanged for a venerable weakness in the picture. Judge Jefferies, too, is not the man we take him to have been. The engraving, by BROMLEY, is elaborate, and appears, from what we know of STEPHANOFF'S paintings, to be faithful to the original.