4 JANUARY 1851, Page 23

FINE ARTS.

NORTH LONDON SCHOOL OF DRAWING AND MODELLING.

THIS institution, established about a year ago with the laudable object of aiding in the diffusion of art-education, thus partly acting as auxiliary to the Government School of Design, has opened an exhibition. of works of fine and indnstrial art in aid of its funds. The success its founders, have already met in their endeavours, and the number of pupils attending. the school, show how mueltinstitutions.of this nature-are needed ;, and. it: is greatly to be desired that the will to extend. the.sealeuf their operationii may be seconded by the mean& The Christmas exhibition comprises several works of a high class, chiefly well-known already. Among these we may name Mr. Mulready's chalk designs of" Choosing the Wedding Gown," and "The Painter's Studio," and two small views at Capheaton, full of poetry : Mr. Ford Brown's "Lear and Cordelia," first exhibited in 1849 ; a view of Windermere and a portrait by the same artist, and a sketch from his charming ca- binet picture, " The Infant's Repast." Mr. Lucy's contributions in- clude a study from his head of Cromwell's Daughter ; where we see, artistically managed, the transition from the literal truth as first ren- dered in the head now at the Pall Mall Gallery. Here are various studies, scientific and of large style, by Mr. W. C. Thomas ; whose design of "Evening," also here, vindicates itself against the engraver : a white pony, immensely vigorous in colour and modelling, by Mr. Anthony— truly a noticeable production ; together with two interiors : Mr. D. G. Rossetti's " Ecce ancilla Domini," slightly but beneficially retouched, and a richly painted female figure in water-colours by the same artist, Venetian in character : several designs by Mr. Ruskin after Fin Ange- lico's immortal conceptions : three designs by Mr. Millais—the expul- sions of the New Forest, the last scene of Romeo and Juliet, and another showing advance in maturity of style—are full of thought and of meaning —creative works, emphatically. Works of sculpture by Mr. Bally and Mr. Woolner, architectural and ornamental designs, illustrative of their

respective periods and styles, photographs, vases, bronzes, are also collected; the name of the artist or contributor being often alone a gua- rantee of quality. We must content ourselves with mentioning Messrs. Clint, Pyne, Cattermole, Hunt, Armitage, T. Seddon, J. P. Seddon, Wyon, Etty, and Cox, Professor Donaldson, Mr. Fairer, Mr. Field, Earl Compton, Messrs. Dickinson, and Messrs. Apsley and Pellatt.