26 MAY 1832, Page 20

PICTURES AND ARTISTS.

MR. HAYDON has added to his attractions at the Egyptian Hall, a new painting of Napoleon, standing with folded arms, musing on the spot which is now his grave at St. Helena. It is a front view of his figure, the size of life, in the same uniform as the back view which was exhibited last year, and to which the present portrait forms a compa- nion. In interest, it is far superior to the former picture, since it gives us the features and expression as well as the form of the man. Mr. HAYDON has been very successful in preserving the contour and general character of Napoleon's head; and the expression of the fitce is very fine. Any doubts that enter our mind respecting the truth of resemblance in feature, yield to the testimony of Mr. O'MEARA in favour of the cor- rectness of the likeness. The compact figure of the Emperor-its outline filled out, but not destroyed by the embonpoint which charac- terized it in his latter years-is vigorously portrayed ; the drawing and general treatment are masterly ; the painting is powerful, and the tone of colour appropriately subdued. We wish the cocked hat out of the picture ; and we are not quite sure about the butterfly, which the painter has settled on one epaulette-with a view, no doubt, to convey the idea of motionless abstraction, and as a sort of moral contrast, or a comment perhaps upon the fleeting glories of splendour and state. The effect of this thought depends for its success. entirely upon the ex- ecution : the insect should seem real, and yet not meet the eye too soon; it is here somewhat too large. The old painters were fond of this kind of illusion. In an exquisite picture of a Madonna by TITIAN, there is a white rabbit, introduced so skilfully that it appears to have stolen silently out of its concealment while you were looking at the picture ; and the effect of hushed stillness and repose is delicious.