FINE ARTS.
NEW PRINTS.
THE few novelties in the way of prints are of a slight and miscella- neous description ; and the brevity required by the urgent demands on our space will best suit their moderate pretensions to notice.
At a time when painting in this country is sinking into a handicraft,
and the most skilful artists are reduced to the condition of tools to tradesmen or slaves to fashion, it is pleasant to meet with a " labour of love" among the heap of trash "made to order," and to greet the flower of fine art springing again from the cold walls of the convent. A Sister of Mercy is producing a set of outlines illustrating the Corporal and Spiritual Acts of Mercy ; consisting of sixteen designs, four of which forum a Part. The " Acts " of the First Part are " Feeding the Hungry "—a group of famishing creatures receiving food at the con- vent ; "Giving Drink "—an aged wayfaring man, who had fainted with thirst in the convent porch, revived by a draught of water ; " Clothing the Naked "—two Sisters of Charity bringing clothing to a destitute family perishing with cold in a damp cellar ; " Taking in time Stranger" —a homeless girl received into the convent among the lay sisterhood. The various scenes are delineated with literal truth ; the characteristic fidelity of the representations being heightened rather than lessened by the graceful simplicity of the style of design, and time touching expres- sion in the action and features of time groups. The " Sister of Mercy " appears to possess skill worthy of an artist ; and we rather incline to attribute any defective points to the difficulty of copying time delicate indications of outline, such nicety of perception and execution are ob- servable. The engraver, FREEDAH1N, has etched the plates with neat- ness and freedom.
In connexion with this little work, we may mention having seen some
pleasing and graceful outline illustrations of the Pilgrim's Progress, and a set illustrative of MosTcomatv's Woman ; both designed and exe- cuted entirely by a young lady of time Protestant faith, Miss Dot-GLAs, who disposes of them among her friends and connexions for the benefit of some religious institution.
As the production of an amateur, the Portraits by Count YORSAY are entitled to honourable mention ; though the talent of sketching fea- tures in profile is of a more limited and ordinal kind than designing groups of figures that tell a story. LANE has lithographed many of the Count's pencil likenesses of his acquaintance, but the seven now published are all literary characters. Thomas Carlyle strikes its as being at once the most remarkable head and time most characteristic resemblance ; though, being little more than an outline, much is neces- sarily wanting to realize the original. Theodore Hook and Albany Fonblanque are the least recognizable ; Sir E. L. Balser and Mr. Jordan are flattered, but like ; Walter Savage Landor appears a true portrait. Profiles, after all, are very unsatisfactory ; for besides that you see but half of time head—and the two sides of the face always differ—
the person is represented in a point of view so rarely noticed, that one may know inns well without at once perceiving the likeness of a profile, except where the features are regular and prominent.
The works of professional artists we have to notice are few and un- important. LINNELL has produced a new and improved portrait of Sir Robert Peel, in mezzotint by SCOTT, representing time Conservative leader of the Commons standing in the attitude he frequently assumes when addressing time House. This likeness is more agreeable than LINNELL'S former portrait, and only less minutely characteristic. Another of ABRAHAM COOPER'S battle-pieces, intended to represent the Death of Harold, has been engraved in mezzotint by W. BROMLEY. Harold, on a white charger in a statuesque attitude, is the prominent figure ; and the arrow iu his eye is an unequivocal demonstration of his fate : otherwise his look and gesture more resemble one struck with a sudden pang of remorse, or labouring under a violent headache, than a man who has received his death-wound. There is no lack of confusion and energetic action in the melk of the fight on the part of both men and horses; but all appears like the still-life of a stage tableau; and the frequent recurrence of similar figures and postures in the composition is too evident. The mezzotint is carefully finished so far as time principal group is concerned, but the rest is misty.
A new Landscape Drawing-Book, in Sepia, by W. WALTON, designed for the use of students practising with the hair-pencil, exhibits another new phasis of lithography ; showing the value of HULLMANDEL'S " stumping" process, in the facility and perfection with which washes of tint are imitated by drawing on stone. The subjects consist of pic- turesque bits of landscape and foliage, old buildings, coast scenes, and craft : the effect of atmosphere, bright or gloomy as the case may be, is remarkable, especially in the coast views, where the airy distance is indicated with the freshness of nature. The monotonous smoothness of a washed drawing is also relieved by a granulated texture that gives solidity to substantial objects in the foreground, and character to the foliage ; while the clouds float in spongy masses overhead, and the mellow light of evening melts the distant mountains into the horizon.
The examples are simple, well chosen, and judiciously varied ; and in their treatment the artist has shown taste and dexterity : his manner is too close an imitation of HARDING's style for him to take any credit on the score of originality, and some of the subjects have the formal and meagre look of copies. These defects, however, do not lessen the uti- lity of the work as a book of studies for learners.
This mode is an extension of the powers of tinted lithography: it improves the result by making the double impression appear like one entire whole, combining the effects of washed tints and crayon drawing with white lights.
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