-
Articles/Ads
Article FINE ARTS. Page 1 of 3 →
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
Fine Arts.
FINE ARTS >
THE ART-UNION EXHIBITIONS . The close of the summer brings with it the annual exhibitions of those admirable institutions , think that the unprejudiced observer cannot fail to be gratified by the decided advance in merit and character of the works selected . In the case of the London Art Union the praise of the improvement must be given to the growing taste and discernment of the subscribers alone , who have displayed a judgment in
exercising their privilege of selecting pictures for themselves which would have been looked for in vain in the earlier seasons of the Society ' s exhibitions . The Scottish Art Unions , as perhaps some of our readers may not know , pursue a different system ; iry their constitution the selection of the works of art wdiieih are to become A nf the prizeholders is lefT " in the hands of a committee elected by tiie subscribers out of their own body ; this comniittee possesses not only the power to purchase such works
as may be already in the market , but has the additibnal liberty of givmg ( brnmissions to any artists they may , in their discretion , think fit to employ . That each plan has its peculiar merits the two exhibitions we are about to notice Jibund ^ that of the Art Union of London satisfactorily shows the increased knowledge of art which it has fostered among its members , the sister institution at Glasgow has kept its committee on thfe qui vive to supply its subscribers with paintings of a class to give satisfaction to the refined taste which it has laboured so successfully , through
so many years , to impart to them . We think upon the whole that the ^ plan ofthe Glasgow Art Union is i > referable ; fox at the present day , when critical ability has become comparatively frequent among the middle classes , the committee of such a society , in addition to exercising their own judgment to the best of their ability , have continually before them the fact that there exists among the body which they represent a large amount of intellectual criticism , which will infallibly be brought to bear upon the result , and this can hardly fail to make them weigh well before deciding upon any purchase
or commission . The Art Union of London exhibits this year at its usual place , the Suffolkstreet Gallery , and is particularly strong * in landscapes , some of which axe of great power and beauty . There are , however , several works of an important character , the principal of which we shall notice ; and of these we think the palm must lie given to Mr . Brooks ' s charming Early Struggles ( No . 38 ) , which is one of the most successful delineations of domestic life
and atfections we ever remember to have seen . The poor author , with his delicate wife , and tlie hard-hearted creditor who has put an execution into the scantily furnished garret , are all instinct with life , while the able drawing and truthful colouring of the subject are worthy of the highest praise . We think few can tail to be touched with the story as told by Mr . Brooks , ancl we sincerely hope , that the letter which the distressed author ' s
sister has just received for him from the grand footman on the staircase contains a cheque of sufficient amount to get rid of the dreadful old man of business and his abominable gingham umbrella . More poetical , perhaps , is the Gaoler's Daughter ( No . o ) , by Mr . V . II . Calderon . A youthful abbe has been arrested on suspicion in the worst days of the French revolution ., and bis profession leaves him the worst to fear , Utterly hopeless , he has
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
Fine Arts.
FINE ARTS >
THE ART-UNION EXHIBITIONS . The close of the summer brings with it the annual exhibitions of those admirable institutions , think that the unprejudiced observer cannot fail to be gratified by the decided advance in merit and character of the works selected . In the case of the London Art Union the praise of the improvement must be given to the growing taste and discernment of the subscribers alone , who have displayed a judgment in
exercising their privilege of selecting pictures for themselves which would have been looked for in vain in the earlier seasons of the Society ' s exhibitions . The Scottish Art Unions , as perhaps some of our readers may not know , pursue a different system ; iry their constitution the selection of the works of art wdiieih are to become A nf the prizeholders is lefT " in the hands of a committee elected by tiie subscribers out of their own body ; this comniittee possesses not only the power to purchase such works
as may be already in the market , but has the additibnal liberty of givmg ( brnmissions to any artists they may , in their discretion , think fit to employ . That each plan has its peculiar merits the two exhibitions we are about to notice Jibund ^ that of the Art Union of London satisfactorily shows the increased knowledge of art which it has fostered among its members , the sister institution at Glasgow has kept its committee on thfe qui vive to supply its subscribers with paintings of a class to give satisfaction to the refined taste which it has laboured so successfully , through
so many years , to impart to them . We think upon the whole that the ^ plan ofthe Glasgow Art Union is i > referable ; fox at the present day , when critical ability has become comparatively frequent among the middle classes , the committee of such a society , in addition to exercising their own judgment to the best of their ability , have continually before them the fact that there exists among the body which they represent a large amount of intellectual criticism , which will infallibly be brought to bear upon the result , and this can hardly fail to make them weigh well before deciding upon any purchase
or commission . The Art Union of London exhibits this year at its usual place , the Suffolkstreet Gallery , and is particularly strong * in landscapes , some of which axe of great power and beauty . There are , however , several works of an important character , the principal of which we shall notice ; and of these we think the palm must lie given to Mr . Brooks ' s charming Early Struggles ( No . 38 ) , which is one of the most successful delineations of domestic life
and atfections we ever remember to have seen . The poor author , with his delicate wife , and tlie hard-hearted creditor who has put an execution into the scantily furnished garret , are all instinct with life , while the able drawing and truthful colouring of the subject are worthy of the highest praise . We think few can tail to be touched with the story as told by Mr . Brooks , ancl we sincerely hope , that the letter which the distressed author ' s
sister has just received for him from the grand footman on the staircase contains a cheque of sufficient amount to get rid of the dreadful old man of business and his abominable gingham umbrella . More poetical , perhaps , is the Gaoler's Daughter ( No . o ) , by Mr . V . II . Calderon . A youthful abbe has been arrested on suspicion in the worst days of the French revolution ., and bis profession leaves him the worst to fear , Utterly hopeless , he has