FINE ARTS.
ROYAL COMMISSION OF FINE ARTS.
THE Commissioners have taken the first step towards accomplishing the purpose for which they were appointed,—namely, to consider the best means of encouraging the fine arts of the country in connexion with the decoration of the New Houses of Parliament. The Gazette of last Tuesday contained an announcement of their first resolution, that means should be taken to ascertain whether fresco-peinting might be employed with advantage ; and a notification of the terms of a public competition, open to all British artists. The object of the competition is to test the qualifications of the English school for making designs of elevated character on a grand scale suitable for fresco ; and the conditions are admirably well calculated to effect this purpose. They are as follows. Three premiums of 900/. each, three of 2001. each, and five of 1001. each, will be given for cartoons deemed worthy of one or other of the pre- miums. Each candidate is at liberty to select his own subject, either from British history, or the works of SHAKSPERE, SPENSER, or MILTON. The designs are to be made in black and white, without colours, and are not to be less than ten or more than fifteen feet in length or height ; the figures being not less than life-size. It is intimated that the qualities desiderated by the Commissioners are—" precision of drawing, founded on a knowledge of the structure of the human figure ; a treatment of drapery uniting the imitation of nature with a reference to form, action, and composition; and a style of composition less dependent on chia- roscuro than on effective arrangement." The cartoons are to be sent in the first week of May 1843 to a place hereafter to be appointed ; the judges will consist partly of artists ; all the drawings will be re- turned to the respective artists, and the letters containing the names of unsuccessful candidates are not to be opened.
The Commissioners also state, that the claims of candidates for em- ployment in other methods of painting besides fresco, in other depart- ments of art besides historical painting, and in decoration generally, will be duly considered. The plan to be adopted in order to decide on the merits of oil-painters and sculptors will be announced at a future time.
Thus far the proceedings of the Commission are in every way worthy of the occasion : it now remains to be seen what will be the results of this first act of state encouragement for high art. These would have been far greater had the English artists been better educated : as it is, the points to which the Commissioners principally direct their attention are precisely those in which our countrymen are most deficient. The effect of this competition will be to give a powerful impulse to talent that has lain dormant for want of patronage—to bring to light names unknown to the public, and to cast into the shade others which have been blazoned forth to the world through the agency of portraiture. The two thousand pounds will have been well spent if only in showing where the real genius for design exists in the country ; for of its existence we have no doubt The time allowed is ample for deliberate thought— ay, and for increase of knowledge and skill : two or three months de- voted to preparatory study of anatomy would be well bestowed by can- didates. Now is the time for Mr. Beam:err, or any other anatomical teacher, to commence a series of demonstrations for the use of artists. The rewards are liberal, without being extravagant ; and the whole scheme, judging of it by what appears, is comprehensive, wise, and just. The exclusion of foreigners is only an act of duty to native artists, who have never before had any opportunity afforded them of showing whst they could do on a grand scale. Until their inability is proved, it would hardly be fair to call in the aid of foreign artists, who have en- joyed state support and state education from their own governments.
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