Punch: Punch (6.1844)

200

PUNCH. OR THE LONDON CHARIVARI.

decidedly aquatic turn was given to the day's proceedings, some of
the boys sprinkling their companions festively with the salubrious
element.

The only drawback to the general hilarity was occasioned by the
non-removal of the wooden hoard from the base of the Nelson \
Column. We understand that a difficulty as to the price of the iron i
railings is the cause of this unsightly continuance of the wood-work ; |
but it is confidently hoped that the ironmonger will see the matter
in its proper light in the course of a few days, and put up those
spikes, the absence of which, on Thursday, the assembled multitudes
so much deplored.

ACADEMY EXHIBITION.

Having just returned from this delicious place of entertainment,
— our brains whirling with the delirious excitement of the scene,—
we have scarce time to collect our scattered senses and to put down
hastily our impressions of this gorgeous galaxy of talent.

Among the portraits, we remarked —

691. Portrait of the Hat of His Royal Highness Prince Albert ;
with His Royal Highness's favourite boot-jack. His Royal Highness's
Persian wolf-dog, Mikza, is lying on the latter, while the former is
in the possession of His Royal lligne&s's diminutive spaniel, Miss
Kidlumy.—Sandseer, li. A.

This magnificent piece of Art has all that Mastery of execution,
that chiaroscurosity of handling—above all, that thrilling, dramatic
interest which distinguishes the most- popular of our painters. The
gallant wolf-hound of Irawn sits scowling over the utensil of the
consort of England's Sovereign, which seems to say, " Nemo me
imprint lacessit." The boot-jack is a miracle of art—had we not worn
Bluchers, in good sooth we should have been tempted to try it ; so
marvellous is the illusion produced. As for the litle spaniel, Miss
Kidlumy, what can we say, but that she is a perfect love? The
biscuit she holds in her mouth may have been painted by a Sand-
seer, but we vow must have been designed by a Lemann : it is one
of the sort usually sold at three a penny. The fluff of the hat is
handled with a gossamer lightness, and the maker's name is a com-
plete illusion. This work stamps Mr. Sandseer not only as a great
delineator, but a noble and exquisite poet. His

996. Parroquet with a Muffin, (the property of the Queen of the
Belgians).

1763. Grouse Shooting. Cockaleckie Castle.

2844. Salmon Leaping. (Scene from the river Snuffmull, off the
heights of Whistlebinkie. Morning).
25. The Highland Luncheou.

" Gin a' the binks that fa' your body,
Your bubbly Jock and winsome poddie,
Your lilting, tilting, linkum doddie,

Should gar your ee."

The words of the Ayrshire bard were never more admirably
illustrated. The tail of the Kelpie in the distance, is, perhaps, a
little out of drawing ; but the Stot is the very picture of life ; and
the mutton-ham with which the sheep-dog (both are likenesses of
eminent political characters) is running away, is unparalleled.

Maclish, R. A., has

991. 1434. 1684. 4. 76. 1999. Subjects from that admirable novel,
Gil Bias—a work lately published, and of the greatest humour ; like-
wise,

802. Olivia curling Maria's hair before going to Farmer Flam-
borough's.

8496. Maria curling Olivia's hair before going to Farmer Flam-
bouough's.

lo. 'Squire Thornhill making love to Olivia in the hay-field.

1844. Hay-field. Group from the Vicar of Wakefield.

176. 8. 4499. and thirteen more, are from the same delightful work,
upon which indeed all our artists have made an attack, for we have

Mulrowdvr, R. A., with 1904, The Vicar of Wakefield smoking
the pipe in the orchard with Mr. Burchell.

2306. Mu. Burchell in London, purchasing a roll of Virginia for
the Vicar. (An admirable piece, with all the humour of Raphael,
and all Rembrandt's correctness of design.)

316. Mrs. Primrose ironing her mittens—a sweet piece in the true
Claude manner. We counted, besides, six other designs from the
same delightful work, and from the unmistakeable pencil of Mr.
Ledslie, R. A., three hundred and thirty-six drawings in illustration
of this most popular novel.

Trundler, R. A., treats us with some magnificent pieces.

TROY AFTEK. TENIERS (TEN YEARS).

34. A Typhoon bursting in a simoon over the whirlpool of Mael-
strom, Norway, with a ship on fire, an eclipse, and the effect of a lunar
rainbow.

0 Art, how vast thy misty wonders are,

To those who roam upon the extraordinary deep ;

Maelstrom thy hand is here.

Irrom an unpublished poem.

4. (Great room.) Hippopotamuses at play in the river Scamander.
1311. The Duke of Welling l on and the Shrimp (Seringapatam,
early suarin).

And can it be, thou hideous imp,
That life is ah ! hc*v brief, and glory but a shrimp !

From an unpublished poem.

We must protest against the Duke's likeness here ; for though his
grace is short, his face is not of an emerald-green colour ; and it is
his coat, not his boots, which are vermilion ; nor is it fair to make
the shrimp (a blue one) taller than the conqueror of Assaye ; with
this trifling difference of opinion, we are bound to express our highest
admiration of the work. It is the greatest that the English school of
quiet landscape has produced. The comet just rising over the cata-
ract in the foreground, and the conflagration of Tippoo's widow in
the Banyan forest by the sea shore, are in the great artist's happiest
manner. Our favourite

Picklegill, R. A., has fourteen admirable portraits.

47- Major BuLDER,and 48. Mrs. Major Bulder (worthy of a
Tintoret).

906. Colossal figure of George Blodder Rodgmore, Esq., M.P.,
of Rodgmore Hall, painted on occasion of the bill for inclosing Co witch
Common, and hung in the lower hall of that city. A grand, we had
almost said, a stalactitic piece. Mr. Rodgmore is represented in a
white waistcoat, and pepper-and-salt trousers, pointing to a scroll of
papers, and as if looking up at a picture of the late eminent William
Pitt ; Rodgmore Park is seen in the distance, the trees tinted by
autumn, and a whirlwind raging above them in the stormy sky. A
curricle, probably containing Mrs. Blodder Rodgmore, completes
the illusion. The Turkey carpet is a miracle of painting, and the
seals hanging from the inexpressibles of the principal figure, are per-
fect wonders of pictorial skill. Our dictum is, Bravo, Mr. Pickle-
gill !

Water-Colour Room. 1915,1803. " Hecuba parting from Lucius
Junius Brutus before the battle of Lepanto ; and Ariadne
visiting Diogenes Laertius in the island of Patmos. Drawings iu
stick liquorice are in the well-known manner of Mr. Jonas, R. A.,
nut the rest of our notices must be reserved for a future day.