time in the Academy, to prove that these are his
perfomance : this Ma. LEYLAND, a young sculptor of great promise, whose first work done satisfactorily, he is admitted a student in the Antique School, was a beautiful statue of " Bonnie Kilmeny," turning from " Beauty " where he draws from casts for a year or two, under the superintendence to " the Beast," has modelled agroup of three African Bloodhounds, of the Keeper. The next step is to the " Painting School " and the larger than nature, which he is privately exhibiting at his studio. The " Life Academy." In the former, he copies pictures provided for the animals are represented as just roused up from sleep by the summons purpose ; and in the latter, he paints, draws, or models, from the of their keeper ; and their momentarily suspended action and eager living figure. This is done nominally under the superintendence of expression are represented with the animation of life. Sagacity is the some one Academician, who is termed the " Visiter," and who attends characteristic of these noble brutes; they have nothing ferocious about for a month. The effect of this beautiful arrangement is thus de- them. Indeed, the term "bloodhound" is a libel on their nature : they scribed by Mr. HA %TON— follow the trail by the scent alone, and it need not be that of blood " The whole forty take it in turns to instruct the young men: the conse- for their acute sense to track it. quence is, that an Academician who is an historical painter, instructs them The spirit and accuracy with which the character of the animals and this month : then comes a landscape painter to instruct them the next month : their anatomy are preserved in the model, are admirable in the highest and if it is the historical painter, he tells them to draw correctly, and not to mind colour and effect, but the outline; he goes, and then comes the landscape degree; but the effect of verisimilitude is much lessened by the want painter, and he tells them to think of colour and effect only, not to attend to of some imitation of the hairy texture of their coats. The dogs may outline." be as sleek as a greyhound, but the indication of hair in the folds of the But the fact is, the Visiter gives himself little or no trouble about skin should be imitated in order to convey the notion of fur. This is the matter. He either draws, or sits and reads, to pass away the not done in modelling the horse, because the hairy surface is lost sight time. Instruction is out of the question. How is the painter to of in the superior form and proportions of the animal ; but in the case teach the sculptor, or vice versa? The only other means of instruc- of dogs, even of the sleekest skins, the representation of hair is essen- tion are the lectures, and the books and prints in the library. Now tial to truth of imitation, on account of his smaller size rendering the
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