EARS AND ITS DEFENDERS.
. Among subjects of the late war, the Defence of Kars is one—perhaps the one—which emphatically deserved to be painted. No action of the war was more memorable, or more a theme for national pride; none offered incidents better adapted for art-treatment. That is an essential considerrition : there are many things grand to do, thrilling to read of, but null to paint. The Defence of Kars has now found a painter in Mr. William Simpson, whose lithographed series of the Crimean Campaign obtained, and deserved, so extensive a popularity. Though we do not learn that Mr. Simpson has been actually on the spot, he has doubtless been supplied with the most authentic materials for giving an accurate local rendering; while his intimate acquaintance with scenes of war, joined to the artistic merits of an easy, natural, and truth-telling style, qualified him well for the task. The incident which he has chosen is an admirable one, capable of either a portrait-like, a more generally histori- cal, or even an epic treatment,—Colonel Lake drawing on the ground, with his well-proved sword, and submitting to General Williams, the plan of a battery (the Tachmasb line of works) which so materially aided the defence in the hard-fought battle of the 29th September. The work partakes of both the portrait and the historic character. The principal group includes the manly and martial presence of General Williams, Colonel Lake, Colonel Teesdale, General Kmety, Captain Thompson, and others of, the defenders. Dr. Sandwith and Osman Bey are tending a wounded Bashi-bazouk ; whose wife and children—one an emaciated in- fant almost at the last gasp—form an appropriate foreground group. The famine of the garrison and town is sufficiently indicated by minor inci- dents here and there. Ringed round by lofty mountain-ranges, Kars itself lies central in the hollow ; the rock-built citadel towering high over the city which holds so much of heroic anguish and endurance.
In point of art, Mr. Simpson has acquitted himself with credit. A work of this extensive scale was a bold undertaking for one who has scarcely ever, if at all, previously practised the technicalities of oil-paint- ing. There are points where further experience will add vigour and effectiveness ; but, taken as a whole, the work is noticeable for com- petence of method without either baldness or exaggeration, and for a well-blended simplicity which may recall some of the works of Mr. David Roberts. And the higher excellences of faithful and valuable por- traiture, and an interesting and well-told story, are unquestionable. The work, which has been on view within this week at the French Gallery in Pall Mall, is to be engraved in etching and mezzotint by Mr. George Zobell.
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