admits not of the fmalleft doubt; that among a number of vine trees collected into one place, and even among the branches of the fame vine, thofe on which the operation had been performed were not fubject to the dropping off which frequently attacked the others. It should be remarked that the wood acquires a greater fize above the incifion, and that the operation accelerates not only the maturity of the wood, but likewife that of the fruit. It has likewife been afcertained that the vines on which the incifion was made too deep and further than the bark, were fpoiled both in the wood and the fruit. Citizen FRANÇOIS DE NEUFCHATEAU, late minifter of the interior, has fent a circular letter to all the profeffors and librarians of the central schools, directing them to compofe, for each department, an annuary or almanack, which fhall contain a fummary defcription of their department; the traits of humanity, courage, and republicanifm, difplayed in the fame department; the prizes propofed and obained; the ftate of agriculture, of ma nufactures, and of commerce; meteorological obfervations; tables of population, of births, of mortalities, prevailing difeafes; curious phenomena, &c. It appears that an annuary upon a fomewhat fimilar plan has been already carried into execution for the department of the Lower Rhine. The National Institute has pronounced, in its general fitting of the 5th Prairial, on the fix lifts of candidates propofed to it in that of the 5th Floreal. The number of voters was 112.-For the clafs of mathematical and phyficab fciences, section of geometry, refiding member, citizen LaCROIX; Jection of anatomy and zoology, affociate, citizen JURINE. For the clafs of moral and political feiences, fection of Geography, affociate, citizen LESCALIER. For the clafs of literature and arts, fection of antient languages, refiding meinber, citizen CHARLES POUGENS; fection of grammar, aflociate, citizen CROUZET; fection of poetry, affociate, citizen DUMOUSTIER. MONTHLY RETROSPECT OF THE PROGRESS OF THE FINE ARTS. [As this Article will in future be continued regularly, all Frintfellers, Engravers and Publishers, who wish for an early Notice of their Works, are requested to forward a Copy of each as foon as published, to Mr. Phillips, No. 71, St. Paul's Church-yard.] F books we have had reviews upon reviews; but though the number of pictures in this country is fo great, that there is fcarcely a ftreet in the metropolis without a printshop; a parish at the weft end of the town without an exhibition; or a parlour without a painting or engraving; notwithitanding all this; of pictures and prints there has hitherto been no regular review! To fill up this chafin in criticifm has long been in our fpeculation, and we propofe in our future Magazines to devote a imall portion to the subject; and give a catalogue and critique of the moft remark able pictures and beft executed prints. To this we fhall add, occafional notices of fuch paintings as are configned to this country from the continent, occafional remarks on the various exhibitions, and whatever relates to the Arts, either in painting, engraving, or fculpture. Of the 1 ft of thefe (fculpture) a great perfonage once faid, "this climate was too cold for it,"et the pleafure excited by the few capit: 1 ftatues we have, leads us to hope the art may revive in Britain; for, though its mere antiquity gives it no claim to additional veneration, yet the recollection of its having been the purfuit and boast of that people who were the lawgivers of defign, and that it eftablished a criterion for tafte, induces us to contemplate it with a kind of enthufiaftic reverence. In all our critiques on thefe fubjects, it is our with, and, riom the prefent ftate of the Arts, we truft it will be cur lot, to have more frequent occafion to confer praite than hurl cenfure, we are fure it will be a more agreeable tafk; for who would not rather gather roles than plant thittles? In every cafe, in our remarks on thefe imitations of Nature, we fhall keep in view the maxim laid down by Nature's Poet,"Nothing extenuate, nor fet down aught in malice." As the first exhibition in point of time, THE SHAKESPEARE GALLERY claims the first notice. This having been fo long before the public, it does not come into our plan to give a regular detail of its merits or errors; fuffice it for the prefent to obferve, that the small pictures which have been last introduced, are, generally fpeaking, admirably painted, and the finall prints which are engraved from them, are generally in a very fpirited and good ftile. This great work draws fast towards a conclufion: the fourteenth Number is published; that and the numbers which follow we fhall notice in a future review. MACKLIN'S difpofal of the pictures in his POETS' GALLERY, by a plan built on the last State Lottery, was conducted in a manner highly honourable to himfelf; though we fear that, from the preffure of the times, it did not prove fo profitable to the proprietor as his long and generous exertions in the Arts warranted him to hope. We have been informed that this fpirited tradefiman has in fpeculation another plan, for giving to the artifts of this country an opportunity of fhewing how far they are improved, or are improving. Succefs to his endeavours! The new ftreams into which the Arts are meandered are infinite! In the exhibition of The Panorama, we fee the triumph of perfpective. In Mifs LINWOOD's pictures in needlework, a formidable rival of painting; and in the painted glafs, by the PEARSONS of Highgate, a fplendour that puts to the blush every production on canvas; but nothing which has yet appeared in this country has any claim to be put in competition with THE MILTON GALLERY. In fublimity of fubject, grandeur of defign, and fpirited execution, this gallery not only takes the lead of any work now exhibiting, but perhaps of any work of one artist that ever was exhibited. As Milton is ranked as the English epic poet, Fufeli has attained a right to be denominated the epic painter of England; and this gallery is an honourable monument, not only of his genius, but of his induftry. In 40 pictures from the most fublime paffages of our moft fublime poet, there must be expected to be fomewhat to blame, --but there is alfo much, very much, to commend. Many of the figures are as large, or larger than nature, with the contours accurately and boldly pronounced, in ail the varieties of attitude in which the human figure can be placed, and the various paffions, which mark the mind's conftruction in the eye and counte. nan.e, delineated with a precision of pen cil and energy of thought that has been rarely equalled. The fubject gave the painter an opportunity of impreffing his characters with an elevation and dignity more than human, and his talents enabled him to avail himfelf of the circumftance. If the figure of Satan calling up his legions (picture 2d) were reduced to a miniature, it would remain gigantic, grand, and fublime. The Night Hag, in the Lapland Orgies (picture 8th), is the finest squalid figure we ever faw. The rapture of Adam, on the first fight of Eve (No. 18), is conceived in the true fpirit of poetry, and moft exquifitely delineated. In picture the 22d, where "The aggregated foil "Death with his mace petrific, cold and dry, "As with a trident, fmote," there is a ftrength, an exertion, a force, that we never before faw displayed upon canvas. It is, literally, more than human. In picture 24, the perfonification of "Demoniac frenzy, moping melancholy, and moon-flruck madness," is horribly fine; and when oppofed to number 30, 31, and 32, of Faery Mab, the Friar's Lanthorn, and the Lubbar Fiend, difplays a verfatility of talent, and perfect knowledge of the paffions. In the firft of thefe, there is an arch comicality, which, though of quite a different defcription, reminded us of the late lamented Prefident's admirable picture of Puck, in the Shakespeare Gallery. To fay that this little Fay, is a fit companion for the knights tiny Elf, is a high praife, and it deserves it. The laft mentioned picture, of The Lubbar Fiend, is fo heavily recumbent, fo perfectly a dead weight, fo completely a figure of molten lead, that, to lift him, we muft employ all the powers of the lever : One might almoft as foon move the Manfion house. Had the Rout of Comus (picture 35), been exhibited alone, we should perhaps have thought it entitled to praife; but with fuch a number of other works, that fo ftrongly difplay the fervid emanations of a vigorous mind, an exuberant and poetic imagination, we thought it bordered on the theatrical. The fketches from Milton, as well as Shakespeare, have a merit hat cannot be fully felt, except by thofe who have feen and confidered the progrefs of a picture from its embriotic to its finished ftare; but they are marked with fuch indications of the paffions, as eminently difplay the artist, and prove him a perfect matter of what we will for once venture to call the 4 C 2 grammar Three prints reprefenting the Sea-fight off Cape St. Vincent, on the 14th February, 1797, between the British Fleet under the Command of Admiral Sir John Jervis, K. B. and the grand Fleet of Spain, from drawings made by Lieutenant Jahieel Brenton, engraved by James Fittler. 20 by 27-P. 61. 65. c. 31. 35. Boydells. Our late naval victories claim every commemoration that can be conferred by the pencil, and they are likely to obtain it. These three prints being copied from drawings made by a gentleman who was in the action, have every chance of being accurate representations of this interefting and honourable event. Mr. Fittler has done justice to the delineations. Marquis Cornwallis. J. Copley, R. A.-Ben. Smith. 15 by 20.-P. 215. c. IOS. 6d. Bovdells. This is one of the best portraits that has been engraved; each part is in perfect harmony; the grain is well underfood, and admirably executed. Adam and Eve, from a picture in his Majefty's Collection, painted by Velvet Breugell, engraved by Heath and James Middiman. 21 by 27.-P. 2l. 12s. 6d. c. 1l. 115. 6d. Boydells. Between the title and appearance of this print there is little analogy. It is a very fine reprefentation of all the birds and beafts in the garden of Eden; but Adam and Eve are thrown into the distance, and fo minute and diminutive, that it requires a good eye to find them out. It is a bufy fene, and a brilliant print. George protecting his bird. Stothard, R.A.--Jefferys. Nutter. The child is fimple and pretty, and the tiger-like fiercenefs of the cat well conceived; but the bird, which ought to be confcious of its danger, and in a flutter, is as time, and unmoved at the danger, as if it were in the neft of its dam. The Peafant's Little Maid. J. Russel, R. A. Nutter. Jefferys. This little female peafant has an ensaging character of face; the is carrying a loaf as large as herfelf, which having heaved out of shape in a hot oven, is not eafily made out to be bread. Shepherds' Amusement.-Berghem - Middiman. 22 by 30.-P. 27. 12s. 6d. c. 17. 11s. 6d. Boydells. This large and fascinating landscape has, in the fore-ground, fome charm. ing figures, engraved in a ftyle that reminded us of Bartolozzi. The whole has a fine filver tint, and is one of the moft bright and well coloured landscapes we have feen. very The Laf Supper -Ben. Weft.-Thos. Ryder. 19 by 25.-P. 21. 25. c. 1l. Is. Boydells. the most fplendid modern prints that we When printed in colours, this is one of have feen. The characters are generally well marked; Judas is a complete affaffin; St. John has the most interefting face; the principal figure we think the worft; tho' to give grace to fuch an attitude is not eafy. The fingers of the hand holding the bread are prepofteroufly long. Lord Duncan-Hoppner.-J. Ward. 18 by Boydells. 26.-P. 21. 25. c. 1. IS. An extremely clear and fine print. The colouring of the drapery and flesh clearly understood, and diftinctly marked. Vulture and Snake-Heron and Spaniel: companion prints. Northcote.-S. W. Reynolds. 19 by 24. Jefferys. The colouring of the fnake has the proper glittering hue which marks this shining reptile; expreffed in a manner which no man in the profeffion, except Dixon, would have marked fo well; and Dixon has quitted the arts! The head and eye of the heron is very fpirited; but in the neck, Mr. Northcote has not availed himfelf of the line of beauty. Venus on a cloud. Two coloured prints engraved from drawings by Cipriani, by Henry Richter. Cinderella. Tavo prints, defigned and engraved by Henry Richter. Richter, Newman freet. In the firft pair of thefe prints there is great tafte; in the last much fimplicity and nature. MISCELLANEOUS INTELLIGENCE RELATIVE TO THE ARTS. A new ftyle of engraving transparencies for window-blinds, &c. &c. &c. has lately been brought to great perfection, by Orme, of Conduit-ftreet. The Caftle Spectre, Sir Bertrand, and many other works are admirable fpecimens, of the height to which the art may be carried, fo as to give much of the effect of stained glafs. Loutherbourg's two fplendid pictures of the hege of Valenciennes, and Lord Howe's Howe's victory, were a few weeks fince brought under the hammer at Chriftie's, to be fold for the benefit of the creditors of an artift, whofe affairs were in the hands of the affignees. The original price paid for the pictures was about 300 guineas, and the two fold for 2561. 48.!!! That two pictures fo painted fhould not produce more, can only be accounted for by their being too large for common apartments. Confidering their fubjects, one is naturally led to ask, why one of them was not purchafed for the Admiralty, and the other for the Trinity-Houfe? They would have been quite as interefting an ornament for their great room, as the portraits of all the elder brethren, by the late Gainfborough Dupont. The portrait of his MAJESTY at a review, from Sir William Beechey's very fine picture, is now published, and the engraver has done juftice to the artift. Several portraits by this gentleman, Mr. Hoppner, and feveral other artifts-and fome very fine drawings by WESTALL, want of room obliges us to defer until our next Magazine. · The place of Secretary to the Royal Academy, vacant by the death of Mr. Boswell, is fupplied by Mr. Prince Hoare. The death of Mr. Catton, and Mr. Tho. Sandby occafioned two vacancies among the Royal Academicians. Mr. Trefham, who paffed feveral years at Rome, and Mr. Thomas Daniell, who a few years fince returned from India, and has published fome exquifite prints from drawings he made on the spot (which prove that magnificence is not confined to the five orders) are elected in their room. The place of Profeffor of Painting, vacant by the refignation of Mr. Barry, is now filled, to the honour of the Academy and the Artist, by Mr. Fufeli. REVIEW OF NEW MUSICAL PUBLICATIONS. AN Elay on Practical Mufical Compofition, according to the Nature of that Science, and the Principles of the greatest Mufical Authors, by Auguftus Frederick Christopher Kollmann, Organift of his Majefty's German Chapel, St. James's. Dale, Cornhill. The fecond volume of this ingenious effay now lies before us, and ftrongly claims a continuance of that attention excited by the merits of the firft. Mr. Kollmann, after explaining what he means by plan in compofition, proceeds to confider the "modulation of a piece," and "the character of a piece;" in the courfe of which he makes fome ufeful remarks on the change of keys; and judiciously obferves, that in imitative mufic all trifling, by-thoughts, and circumftances fhould be avoided, and the general fentiment, rather than the particular expreffion of the poet, be attended to by the mufician: and pertinently inftances the frivolity of Handel in attempting to exprefs the fwarming of flies in a chorus in Ifrael in Egypt. In Chapters 2, 3, and 4, he fpeaks of fonatas, concertos, and fymphonies, as compofed for one principal inftrument, or for two or more, whether for domeftic or orchestral ufe. The definition of a fugue, given in Chapter 5, is fuccinct, and feientifically correct; and the opinion of Kimberger, P. Burney, and P. Forkel, that fugues had their origin in the antiphones of the ancient church, is adduced by Mr. Kollmann with much probability of truth. His remarks (in the 6th Chapter) on fimple fugues, are perfectly juft, and the examples judiciously felected. Chapter the 7th treats of double, triple, quadruple, quintuple, and fextuple fugues, and contains a variety of theoretical remarks, which will be found to be curious and edifying. Speaking of the importance of a proper choice of fubjects for fugues, the author obferves, that Sebaftian Bach was perhaps without a rival in that particular; and, in proof of his theoretical learning, inftances the fact of his fon, Emanuel, having one day fhewed him a fugue, with a view to being informed, whether the fubje&t would admit of any additional variety; Sebaftian, cafting his eye over the piece, immediately returned it, faying, "No more." anfwer provoked Emanuel's curiofity, and he fat down earnestly to study, hoping to produce fome new anfwers; but after the most perfevering patience, only found that his father had been able to fee that at a glance, which coft him fo many hours of the most painful refearch to discover. A Collection of favourite Songs, fung by Mr. This Dignum, Mr. Denman, Mrs. Franklin, Mafter Gray, Mifs Howells and Mrs. Mountain, at Vauxhall Gardens. Compofed by Mr. Hook, (Rook ft.) p. 35. Bland and Weller. The prefent collection of Vauxhall fongs are, by their melodious variety and originality, calculated to fupport the credit of Mr. Hook's inexhaustible fancy. The airs are eight in number. The first, "I'll be true to thee, Laffie," fung by Mrs. Franklin, is a pleafing imitation of the Caledonian lay; and expreffes the fentiment fentiment of the words with much propriety and effect. "I must try another," fung by Mr. Dignum, is fimple in its tyle, and ingenious in its accompaniments. "The Tars of Old England again and again," fung by Mrs. Mountain, though not of equal merit with either of the former two, is an eafy and natural movement; and will not fail to please thofe who enjoy a plain and free melody. Young William feeks my Heart to move," fung by Mifs Howells, is original in its caft, and judiciously adapted to the fubject of the poetry. "The Happy Waterman," fung by Mr. Denman, is a bold and open air, and the introductory fymphony is novel and attractive. "To London Town I'll hafte away," fung by Mis Howells, is, we are obliged to obferve, deficient both in novelty and variety; but "Two Strings to your Bow.", fung by Mrs. Franklin, is fprightly and engaging; and "To-morrow's a Cheat, let's be merry to-day," fung by Mr. Denman, is agreeably conceived, and clofes the collection with an effect highly creditable to the ingenious author. "Where fball I go to seek repofe," compofed by Mr. Matthew Payne, Organift at Coventry: the words by George Saville Carey. IS. Longman, Clementi, and Co. The melody of this fong is finooth and eafy; but prefents no traits of extraordinary feeling or genius. If the compofer has not abfolutely been hoftile to the fentiment and character of the poetry, neither has he been friendly towards it; a certain infipid langour pervades the whole ftrain, and caufes it to glide unimpreffively along. Loft is my quiet," an Air, arranged as a Rondo for the Piano-Forte, by T. Haigh. Is. Rolfe. Mr. Haigh has arranged this air with confiderable ability. The fupplementary paffages grow out of the original fubject, and contribute to form an entertaining and improving exercife for the piano-forte. Roy's Wife of Alldı-valleck," a favourite Scotch Air, arranged as a Rondo for the PianoForte, by T. Haigh. IS. Rolfe. This defervedly celebrated ballad is extremely well calculated for the purpose to which Mr. Haigh has here applied it. In its prefent form, it becomes newly attractive, and particularly worthy the attention of the piano-forte practitioner. The Mufical Bouquet; or, Popular Songs and Ballads:" Jome of whub are composed and others felected by the Editor. To sobib are added proper Accompanyments for the Harp or Haffichord, and most refpesifully tags, ibed to bis Scholars, by Edward Jones, Bard to the Prince of Wales. 7s. 6d. Longman, Clementi, and Co. This mifcellaneous collection of vocal mulic comprifes many pleasing airs, and occupies 47 quarto pages. Amongst the various articles, we find the engaging fong performed at the feftival of lord mayor, in the mayoralty of Sir Watkin Lewes," The Invocation to Nature," from Schultz; "The Death Song of the Cherokee Indian;""The Dirge in Cymbeline;"" Adefte Fideles," or the Portuguese Hymn on the Nativity; "Here's a Health to all good Laffes;" "Gently touch the warbling Lyre," from Geminiani; "Come all noble Souls," from Dr. Rogers; "Gather your Rofe-buds while you may," from Lawes: and feveral excellent airs by Mr. Jones, whofe accompaniments are, in general, ingenious and judicious; and with those amateurs who practife the harp, harpsichord, or piano forte, will be found to add much to the value of the publication. No. 5, and No. 6, of "Elegant Selections," comprifing the most favourite compofitions of Haydn, Pleyel, Mozart, Pafiello, and other efteemed authors, confifting of Sonatas, Overtures, Capricios, Rondos and Airs, with Variations for the Piano-Forte or Harp. W. Rolfe. 25. Thefe numbers contain a variety of vocal and inftrumental. The first piece is amufing and improving matter, both air by the fame author. Thefe are fuca fonata by Haigh, the fecond a Scottish ceeded by the Fowler," a pleafing melody from Mozart, which clofes the fifth number. No. 6 commences with a canzonetto by Haigh, after which we are prefented with the Fair Thief," a fweetly fimple air by Mozart, "the Kiss,” an agreeable melody by Shultz, a favourite movement compofed by Mozart, and a celebrated air by Gluck. While this work continues to be conducted with that tate of choice which diftinguishes the fent and former numbers, we fhall be enabled to recommend it to the notice of our mufical readers. pre |