PICTURES AND ARTISTS.
THE various annual exhibitions are giving " note of preparation ;" and the artists are hard at work on their respective pictures. The British Institution, which we have already noticed, formed the advanced guard. The British Artists in Suffolk Street are in the van, and will open their battery about the end of this month. Next comes the " New Society of 1Vater Colour Painters," with its corps of volunteers, which commences its first campaign this season. Then follow the ve- teran corps of the Old Society ; and last, the grand army of the Royal Academy, with a train of minor exhibitions bringing up the rear, , The gallery of the New Society of Water Colour Painters is at No. 16, Old Bond Street. This Society has been formed under cir- cumstances that require a.word of explanation. Water colour paint- ing has attained to a degree of perfection in this country quite unrivalled in any other. The popularity of the style, consequent upon the beauty and excellence of the productions of artists in this department, has directed many competitors into the same track ; and a great amouut and variety of talent is engaged in this branch of painting. Some of the most eminent water colour painters formed themselves into a so- ciety, a few years ago; and their annual exhibition has always been one of the most attractive. But the number of their members being limited, while the number of pictures by each is unlimited, it is obvious that they could not find room, in their small- gallery, for the produc- tions of other artists. They must either have enlarged at once their society and their rooms, or have limited the number of works allowed to be exhibited by their members. . The latter plan we should have re- gretted as much as the artists themselves, for there is never one picture too many in the water colour gallery. The former, however, we not only cannot see a valid objection to, but we think it would have proved advantageous to the present members of the Society to include in their number every artist of merit. They have not thought so; and hence the new Society, which is more catholic, and formed on a wider basis. It offers also two preinimns, of not less than fifteen guineas each, for the best landscape and the best design of figures. Its rules are liberal, as should be those of every institution for the promotion of a liberal art. But jealousy, and dreial of' rivalry in profit as well as finne,,narrow the minds of too many artists, whose genius or talent places them above the necessity of being influenced by this weakness,—trom which, however, a TMAN and a LAWRENCE were not exempt, any more than it BA NDINEI.1.1.
The doors of the gallery of the New Society of Water Colour Painters are open on the .0th and 31st of this month, to receive all works of merit, be they the productions of members or not. This is a great desideratum supplied ; for hitherto a painter in water colours, who was not a member of the Old Society, had only the chance of a place in one of the small rooms at Suffolk Street, or that den of darkness the " one- pair front room" of the Royal Academy's lodgings ; and the chance was intuit smaller even than the space in the former or the light in the latter. Even Tuaskat, who is an R.A., and whose water-colour draw- ings are as beautiful as his oil painting, can only squeeze in one or two frames, while his drawings in one year would almost form an exhibition of themselves. " Why are these things hid?" we ask. But TuaxEn, it is answered, being a Royal Academician, will not exhibit with the new Society. If so, there is another instance of the liberal spirit of corpo- rate bodies. Were a Royal Academician to exhibit a picture at Suffolk Street, We don't know whether he would not, if possible, be expelled. It would be petty treason. "He who is not with us is against us," is the motto of these corporations; all of which, be it remembered, are supported by the public. The Old Society of Water Colour Painters opens its exhibition earlier than usual this year. Is this in order to oppose the rival Society, which opens in April? We would wish to think not ; but can see no other reason for this deviation from the established usage: these So- cieties are not given to change. We wonder if STANFIELD, who is patiently, though not anxiously, waiting for the Royal Academy to do him justice by recognizing his high claims of merit to academic ho- nours, will dare the wrath of the Academy by exhibiting with the New Society. Nous verrons.
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