Art And The Drama.

Art and the Drama .

CONTINENTAL GALLERY ( WEST ROOM ) , 157 NEW BOND STREET , VV .

EXHIBITION OV SILVER POINT , GOLD POINT , AND WATER COLOUR DRAWINGS , BY CHAS . SAINTON , R . I .

We visited the abcve Exhibition last week . It afforded us great p leasure ; it was such a change from the many artistic woiks we are accustomed to behold , to lose , for a while , the glare of colour , and rest and refresh our eyes with the exquisite graceful forms of artistic beauty . Many of our readers will naturally ask the question , " What is Silver Point ?" We cannot do better , than adopt Mr . Sainton's own words in explanation .

" Silver point is simply a drawing made upon paper , prepared with a wash nf opaque white , with a stylus of pure silver fixed in a wooden holder . These drawings are permanent . It was a favourite instrument with the old ¦ rasters . Fine collections of Silver Point , by St . Francis , Raphael , Piruguins , Botticelli , Cbirlardajo , Holbein , Albert Durer , and other masters , are to be found in the national collections of England and France . "

Through the courtesy of the artist , we were invited to see him at actual woik , in his studio—the technique is really very simple . Again , we quote from a clever and interesting essay , by F . G . Stephens , Eaj ., which is a preface to the catalogue of Drawings exhibited . " The practitioner in this method , uses for his paper a stiff sheet , the surface of which is thickly covered with ' cretaceous matter , ' practically chalk , and under great pressure ,

vf ry highly polished by passing it between hot steel rollers—that is to say , ' hot pressing it . ' The paper is thus made extremely smooth , liable to be s . id d , apt to absorb grease and stains , and so sensitive , that what is drawn iipcn it can only be removed by scraping , a proceeding , which in an infinitesimal degree , is fatal to ttc draughtsman's views . I pon this ticklish material and its highly glazed surface , the artist draws with a stylus of gold or silver .

Scatf pins serve very well for this purpose , or what are called ' ever painted ' pi-r . cils , the tin points of which are softened with bismulh . The work is indelible , and quite permanent . " In etching , as is well known , errors can le rectified , and to thoroughly , lhat the artist is enabled to carry out his original design . Copper or steel plates can be hammered , from behind , or burnished in front , in order to remove faults , or modify the artist ' s original

ideas . Such plates can be again affected by acid , or engraved upon anew , with the needle , over and over aga n . This is not the case with gold and silver point drawing , errors cannot be satisfactorily amended , and the thawing , under there conditions , is practically valueless . It is interesting to note that Mr . Chas . Sainton is the only son of Mons . Prosper Sainton , the celebrated violinist , and Mdme . Sainton-Dolby , the famed contralto .

We feel that we owe a deep debt of gratitude to these late distinguished artistes , for the many delightful evenings their talents have afforded us . We should have liked to brielly trace Mr . Chas . Sainton ' s progress in art , from its earliest period , to his present matured experience , but the limitations of space forbid our doing so . As critics of this choice collection of drawings , we must confess that we can find nothing objectionable , nor in any way

deserving of censure . We simply run through the gamut of admiration , from the lowest to the highest notes . We will notice those which especially took our fancy . ist . " Par excellence , " is "A Spider ' s Web , " No . 31 , graciously lent to the artist for this exhibition , by H . R . H . The Duke of York . A fairy ' s child is seated in the centre of a spider ' s web . The figure is most delicately drawn , and it is remarkable for its quaint grace and

beauty . This is in silver point . Another , " Titania's Messenger , " No . 13 , made with gold point , is one of the loveliest in the collection . " A Bacchante , " No . 20 , is a study made with a gold point . The graceful figure and face of the maiden , with her wreath of vine leaves , is beautifully depicted . " The hairy all forlorn , " No . 9 , is in silver point . Poor Puck is in trouble . There is an original humorous idea in the contact of the

fairy's hands upon the mushroom head , delicately and fercitously carried out . These we have named are only a few of this charming collection . We could instance many more , but we must not encroach upon the limits assigned to us . There is , however , one subject to which we must allude . We were much astonished when we read a review by one of thc leading daily papers . The critic , on the whole , was not favourably impressed . He

spoke of the drawings being " sensuous , " and though he did not actually say so , intimated that the impression they conveyed was that of indelicacy . With this opinion we are entirely at issue . We regret that the writer should view Mr . Sainton ' s drawings from so low a standpoint . We would remind him , that " to the pure minded , all things are pure , " and that , in the

exquisite poetical feeling with which the artist has effectively and gracefully depicted his subjects , there is nothing whatever which could offend the prudish matron , or the delicately-minded maiden . Let those who would be assured on this point , visit the gallery and judge for themselves . The Princess Victoria of Wales , and Prince and Princess Charles of Denmark , visited the Gallery on Friday , the 3 rd inst . ( Private view . )

ADELPHI THEATRE . We were present at a matinee of the Adelphi Theatre last week . The piece now playing is " With Flying Colours . " It is an improved type of the good old Melodramatic School , so familiar in our childhood . Of course , there is a murder in it , for what would a piece of that kind be without it . It is ingeniously contrived . How so ? Well , my dear brother , have I

whetted your curiosity ? No , you must not expect me to tell you , go yourself and see how how it is done . You will there revive acquaintance with "ie old stock characters ; the villain , prosperous and well to do , the persecutor of the hero and the heroine , through the four acts of the drama , lo be visit * d with terrible retribution in the fifth . Then there are the two

nne characters in the piece j the clever all round utility man , the humble , yet valuable aid in the thwarting the designs of the smiling smooth-faced villain , on the eventual happiness of the loving pair . Then , as a relief , we j > e introduced to scenes ^ and incidents of naval life , not only on board ship , but also on land , affording the opportunity of developing the plot . In due purse , Vice is defeated , and Virtue triumphant . So far , we have written

•• ' f ngnt vein , but seriously speaking , it is a lairly gooa piece , and tnougn written on the usual lines , yet , one or two of the ideas are certainly original . We especiall y allude to the " right of way , " as shown in Act 3 , Scene 1 . — Harry Belt ' s cottage ; the audience quite appreciated this new departure , "arry Belt and Polly Tumble , the chief actors in this scene , are well interpreted by the universal favourite , Harry Nicholls , and clever Florence

Art And The Drama.

Lloyd . The weight of the drama rests on the shoulders of Messrs . Robt . Pateman , W . L . Abingdcn , and Aubrey Mallabien , who are well able tc sustain it . But we would suggest to Mr . Abingdon , that if his utterance were less rapid , it would be much more effective . It is evident , that , at times , he is hurried away by his conscientious earnestness . This could easily be amecded , giving , the talented actor the bettpr cirmnrtuniun f

making his points . We should have spoken of the lady artistes first . We trust they will kindly excuse our not having done so . The heroine , Mary Derrick , is personated by Miss Suzanne Sheldon . We do not recollect having seen her before . She is graceful and unaffected in her manner , possessing a certain amount of power , which , however , she has not many opportunities of using . We hope , ere long , to see her in a more important character . Miss Florence Llovd contributes , essentially , tn the I » PM . ^ PC * .. SJ

success of the piece ; while of the evergreen Mrs . Henry Leigh , she is too well known and appreciated , to need any commendation on our part . The unpleasant character of Florence Hackett , is made as little repulsive as possible , and played most intelligently by Mrs . Ralei gh . The scenic accessories and costumes are good . We think that the title of the drama might be improved . In these p iping times of war , people , would be likely to attach a different meaning to it , than is intended b y the authors . Taken as a whole , we think the drama will repay a visit .

"DI TANTI PALPITI , " OR "THE MUTTON CUTLET" AIR , FROM " TANCREDI , " BY G . ROSSINI . The other evening during a few idle moments ( we have not many , by the way ) , we were playing from an old music bock , some operatic airs selected from the works of the " Swan of Pesars , " Guiseppe Rossini . How often memory will look back , through the vista of bye-gone years , and recalls the scenes and events of early life . We well remember on one of

our early visits to the Italian Opera , we saw the opera of Tancredi , a wellknown type of the romantic school of music , now consigned to ' oblivion , and only remembered by its brilliant overture , which is still , occasionally ' played at Band Concerts . Music , like its sister arts , is subject to the fickle goddess , Fashion . At the time when the operas of that prolific composer Rossini , were in full vogue , the style of music was utterly rfirfpr ** ., ^ t „ tw

of our present age . We find in the Operas of Bellini , Rossini , Donizetti and others of thai florid school , that the melodies written for the great singers ' beautiful , as undoubtedly , many of them are , are so overburdened . with ornamental additions— " fioritoire" as they are called , that the original airs are lost in the exceeding , elaborate , and difficult passages , which really only serve as a vocal display , " tours de force , " of the accoirmlisherl * - * ri ;<* t « -. c

Our modern style is better and purer . A notable exception to what we have s ' ated , is fo be found in the lovely melody , " Di tanti palpiti , " from Tancredi . When first sung , theair is free from that meritorious ornamentation of which Rossini is so fond . Later on in the opera , the melody is again introduced , bat overladen in the way to which we have alluded . " Di tanti palpiti , " is generally known under the name of the " Mutton

Cutlet , air . As the story is told , Rossini went , on one occasion at midday , to a cafe on the Piazza di San Marco , Venice , and ordered some mutton cutlets , fnr his lunch . While they were being prepared , he is said to have been inspired with a musical idea , and hastil y jotted down the leading motif of this entrancing melody , a bright , pure , musical gem , which will ever retain its lustre . On a future occasion we may say more of Rossini .

Ladies' Banquet And Concert Of The Albion Lodge And Chapter, No. 9.

LADIES' BANQUET AND CONCERT OF THE ALBION LODGE AND CHAPTER , No . 9 .

The members of the above lodge and chapter annuall y meet together accompanied by ladies , and the result is invariably a most enjoyable evening ! This year the pleasant function took p lace at Freemasons' Tavern , on the 14 th inst ., but for the first time , Masonic regalia was not worn . The visitors on arriving were cordially welcomed by Bro . las . R . Franr-i- * -. W . M ..

Mrs . Francis , and found that everything necessary for their comfort had been arranged for by the Secretary , Bro . W . L . Harvey . At the banquet , over which the W . M . presided , the vice-chairman were Bros . F . B . Smith , W . M . ; W . W . livans , J . W . ; and Comp . E . T . Wickenden , M . E . Z . The Past Masters present included Bros . Cane , I . P . M . ; Gerrish , P . M . ; Meyers , P . M . ; W . Dennis , P . M . ; and F ' riend , P . M ., Treas .

After dessert , a very short toast list was proceeded with . " The Queen and Royal Family" was first heartily received , the W . M . alluding to Her Majesty ' s glorious and virtuous reign . Bro . CANE , I . P . M ., proposed " The Chairman , " and said his task was both an easy and difficult one . Easy , inasmuch as he had their unanimous support in the desire to honour their W . M ., but the ODnortunitv nn hie ** , »*>

was in the employment of appropriate words to properl y convey the kindly feelings of esteem and regard in which the W . M . was held . The brethren of the lodge had watched Bro . Francis' career with great interest , had seen him pass through the various offices with great credit . He took this opportunity of congratulating the W . M . upon his success , and particularly on this meeting , which had been the greatest success , on account of th c oresence of so manv ladies who had traced the ac « . mhl «

Bro . J . R . FRANCIS , W . M ., on behalf of his wife and himself , sincerely thanked all present for their generous support . It had gladdened both their hearts to see so many ladies present , and indeed , he did not know what they should do without them . He would at once propose the next toast , " The Ladies . " If he had his way they should attend every time a banquet was held . Bro . MITTEN acknowledged the toast .

Bros . HARRINGTON and WOOLLEY- replied for "The Visitors . " The " Vice-Chairman " was the last toast given by the W . M ., who referred to the splendid work done in the chapter by Comp . Wickenden . Comp . I-:. J . WICKENDEN , M . E . Z ., said he was proud to know that so ' many members of the lodge had joined the chapter . He was pleased to see the ladies with them ; and hoped this would continue for many years .

After a short interval , the concert , which proved most enjoyable , was proceeded with , the artistes being Miss Jessie Hotine , Miss Ethel Be ' vans Bros . Arthur Weston , Franklin Clive , li . B . Hopkins , Wilson James , and F . H . Cozens . A pleasant evening was fittingly terminated with " Rule Britannia , " and Auld Lang Syne .