THE SKETCHING SOCIETY.
A further and more extended collection of works by the so-called "Sketching Society" is on view at Mr. Hogarth's in the Haymarket. Our readers may remember that this body consisted of some eminent art- ists, who met together to produce, in a limited time, designs on a given subject, but such generally as, by admitting of various interpretations, gave scope to the characteristic bent of each artist. The two Chalons shine here peculiarly with dashing artistic treatment. The "Lady Diana Rich, terrified by an apparition resembling herself in the gardens of Hol- land House," shows their powers to advantage : Mr. J. J. Chalon espe- cially has produced a really fine design. Many other designs by this gen- tleman display remarkable breadth and vigour, with force of colouring ; qualities in which, united with his singular elegance, and a freedom which is almost sleight-of-hand, his brother amply shares. Of his designs we recognize one or two that have been engraved. We should mention that from " Vert-Vert" as of extreme cleverness. Mr. Leslie also treats a subject from this poem with great chasteness of feeling. His simplicity and originality of purpose are seen in the turn given to so hacknied a theme as "A Wedding" ; for which he selects an infant betrothal, in preference to the more obvious commonplace. For " The Sick Lady " he appears to have taken the last illness of Queen Katherine, from the play of Henry the Eighth,—a subject carried out by him in the picture exhibited last year at the Academy. The other most prominent contri- butors are Stanfield and IJwins ; and one very clever design appears by Landseer—" A Hoax." A dog is led up, half dubious, to a stuffed lion : the humour of the situation being augmented by the touch of burlesque analogy which has endowed the royal beast with a closed or winking eye.
Previous page
