THE ART 'UNION.
The pictures chosen by the prize-holders of the Art Union for the year 1854 are now to be seen at the Gallery of the Society of British Artists in Suffolk Street. It is possible, and the Art Unionists have proved it so aforetime, to make a worse selection on the whole. The highest prize, however, (2501.) has gone en pure perte for so ordinary a triviality as Mr. T. S. Cooper's " Common Fare " ; the purchaser, misguided enthusiast, thinking it worth his while, moreover, to make up the price by adding 1171. 10s. of his own. The 2001. prize has Mr. Uwins'a " Cabin in a Vineyard" to show for itself,—a work which has its value, though we can hardly suppose that 2001. need have been at a loss to find something better. A lady, Mrs. R. Lawrie, has been sensible enough to take Mr. Stirling's " Bible Class in a Scottish Parish-School examined by a Com- mittee of Presbytery," and lucky enough to get it for 201. Other ju- dicious purchases are Mr. Dcarle's "Evening on the Machno, N. Wales," from the Royal Academy, and " Scene in N. Wales," from the Gallery of British Artists, for 201. and 251. respectively; Mr. Hulme's "Newark Abbey " ; Ms. Wallis's "Johnson at Cave's House" ; and Mr. A. Gil- bert's "Decline of Day "—the last somewhat leas well-looking than when removed further from the eye in Trafalgar Square. Of other pic- tures tolerably conspicuous, may be named Mr. R. S. Lauder's " Lady of Shalott," and "The Brunette and the Blonde," Mr. C. Landseefa "Siesta," and Mr. Warren's "Mein Voglein." "Sunshine in Genoa," by Mr. Dickinson, "The Road through the Park," by Mr. G. Chester, and a study of a child called " The Youthful Hairdresser," by Miss M. A. Cole, claim more attention here than they could receive at the Royal Academy, and deserve it. The prostrate blunders of course count as a considerable proportion in the general result ; and a gentleman rejoicing, if we are to believe the catalogue, in the name of "Mr. Lila Lola Roma," has committed not the least of these in exchanging 151. against a produc- tion by Mr. A. W. Cooper. The print for the current year's subscription is to be " A Water Par- ty," engraved by Mr. Willmore after that decried Academician Mr. J. 1. Chalon; who is an artist though the present generation determine not to believe it. This is well engraved ; and, without anything extraordinary in the design, is brilliant and satisfactory. The " Specimen from a Volume of thirty Wood-engravings illustrating subjects from Childe Harold," which will also be distributed to subscribers, promises but indifferently.
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