THE ARTS.
BRITISH INSTITUTION.
Tin: Annual Exhibition of Paintings by the Old Masters, at the gallery of this Institution, opened on Wednesday. It is a treat that always surpasses our anticipation, even when the collection is not of the choicest. This year, the best pictures and the greatest number are of the Flemish and Dutch Schools : these include, however, some heads by REMBRANDT and VANDYKE, that are worthy of the companionship of TITIAN; two or three of whose finest portraits are here, as well as others by SEBASTIAN DEL PIOMBO, GIORGIONE, MURILLO, PARMI- GIANO, VELASQUEZ, HotnEnc, &c. These grand heads are painted with extraordinary power, and in the most finished manner ; and pre- sent the individual before you without any impertinent intervention of the painter's style. The man lives, looks, and thinks. It is not mere superficial painting, but seems almost palpable to the touch as well as to the sight. There is an intensity of purpose and a straightforward simplicity of style in these pictures, which show that the painter went directly to his object, and effected it by patient elaboration with all the skill which he possessed (neither too much nor too little), relying upon the correctness of his eye and hand, and confiding in nature. There is no petty ambition or affectation of style; no vain display of art ; all appearance of labour is merged in the truth and completeness of the work. Even some of Sir Jositua REYNOLDS'S Portraits look like flashy and muddy daubs in comparison—speaking of the execution only. There are two or three of his and GAINSBOROUGH'S heads here, which bear the neighbourhood of these fine paintings well : but we cannot forget that, had they painted more carefully, their works would have been the finer. In the highest class of pictures, this ex- hibition is deficient : the TITIANS and Mentr.Los are not of the best ; there are, however, some good specimens of N. POUSSIN'S classical style; an two gorgeous RUBENSES. There are also two or three fine works of SALVATOR ROSA; several of G. Poussix's rich landscapes ; one or two of Gunio's beautiful heads, &c. Among the landscapes of the Flemish and Dutch School, there are some brilliant ones by CUYP; and several choice specimens of TENIERS, RUYSDAEL, BOTH, Hoe- BMA A. VANDEVELDE, WATERLOO, VANDERNEER, BERGHEM, KAREL DC jARDIN, &C. ; sea-pieces by VANDER CAPELLA, W. VAN- DEVELDE, and BACKHUYSEN; BOOTS by A. °STADE, TENIERS, and the beast JAN STEEN, whose pictures we admire and loathe ; two or three exquisitely-finished cabinet pictures by METZU TERBURG °STADE, &C. BONINGTON'S name, too, swells the roll of fame, and his works are ranged with those of the great masters: they are worthy of the association.
We shall return to the subject again, when we can indulge our- selves with more space.
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