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EXHIBITION OF THE ROYAL ACADEMY. V.
A parting glance round the walls reminds us of some works which we have overlooked. Of the cabinet pictures with a story, Mr. Clark's " Draught Players" is certainly the completest. The grandfather has been beaten by his grandson, a young professor in corduroy trowsers, whose assured sense of having puzzled the honest old man is to be seen even in the twist of his figure : the accessories are equal to the prominent part of the story, the dog asleep, the younger urchin handling the grand- father's watch, the fiddle thrown in the cradle, and the baby's toy of a crab-shell with a string attached, and the figures at the side of the mother carrying her last born, all present a natural domestic scene such as any one can appreciate. " Ici on Rase, Brittany," by Mr. Solomon, also de- serves special mention, the laughing enjoyment of the girls who are watching, sturdy rubicund Jean, under the active hands of the female- professional who is about to operate, raises a smile, without question, to thank the artist for his kindly humour. Mr. Horsley's "Blossom Time," with a sailor lad and his sweetheart plighting their early vows, is archly painted, and Mr. Hook's "Skipper Ashore," where a young mariner is left for the first time probably, alone with the boat, has the pertinent humour belonging to a veritable portrait.
The portraits do not display much progress, Mr. Knight, Sir J. W. Gordon, Mr. Richmond, and Mr. Grant take the first rank. The busy interested air of Mr. J. Crean, by Sir J. W. Gordon is well expressed, and Mr. Sawyer's portrait painted by the same artist, for the Draper's Company, is very lifelike, with a thoroughly natural attitude. Mr. Grant has rendered justice to the bluff, manly features and form of Lord Alfred Paget, with the smack of the sailor about it befitting the commodore of a yacht club. The portrait of Mrs. Gaskell, daintily as she is dressed, hardly seems suitable to the wintry background of a snow scene, such Balmoral boots and gaily trimmed hat. Mr. R. J. Lane, A. E. is a thoughtful easy portrait by Mr. Knight, who has also sent an adnlirable likeness of a manly old English gentleman of his class, the late Mr. Dixon of Stansted Hall. The best of Mr. Richmond's contributions are the late Sir Charles Hotham, in a free natural attitude, with a vigorous yet careless look, thoroughly identifying the wearer of it as a good speci- men of the English sailor, and an anonymous "gentleman," (No. 467,) who is well known to the London world, with his dark expressive lineaments and firmly set mouth. All Mr. Macnee's portraits display continued, nay, advanced power ; and that of Miss Macnee especially pleasant, though the play. of the light on the face and the depth of the eyes, are rather startling 111 effect Mr. Boxall is remarkable, as usual, for elegance and refined treatment rather than vigour in the four speci- mens of his pencil, that of the Prince Consort is a Court picture as is the custom.
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