THE NATIONAL GALLERY JOB.
IT is fit that the public should know that this precious job is now going on quietly ; the muiti ceremony of laying the foundation- stone, which is rarely minded in the erection of even a parish- school, being prudently dispensed with. The architectural toad- stool of Mr. \Vila:INs has been suffered to take root ; and its puny, shapeless form, will rear itself to public view beibre people are well aware that the Ministerial Folly is really determined upon. At the close of last session, the whole albuir was at sixes and sevens : neither the site, the plan, the expense, nor the architect, were finally fixed upon. Mr. WILKINS has, however, improved his opportunity ; and taking advantage of the indecision of Mi- nisters, and the absence of inconvenient Parliamentary querists, has got his appointment confirmed and his plans settled. The fortunate necessity, too, of removing the pictures from the old house in Pall Mall to a safer stowage, has conic timely to his aid; and he has managed to begin the building before the commence- ment of the session. The job, however, is not so far advanced as to render Parliamentary interference useless even now. Of course, the ready reply to any remonstrance would be, that " the works are in too forward a state to he stopped ;" and the pledge prema- turely given to the architect, and the want of some placeof exhibition for the National Pictures, would be pleaded. Excuses are never wanting on such occasions. Nevertheless, we call upon the Indepen- dent Members to arrest the progress of this vile job : we again de- nounce it as one by which the architect and the Royal Academy are to be benefited at the expense of the country. The nation will be made to pay 70,0001. or 80,000/. for a building of which it will be ashamed ; and which will contain only a picture-gallery 200 feet long—being at the rate of 400/. per foot ! For this is all the space that will be devoted to the professed purpose of the building ; the rest being swallowed up in ve:itibules, staircases, keepers' apartments, and the schools and exhibition-rooms of the Academy. Was ever any thing so monstrous! Why, there will be very little more than room for the present collection of pictures , that was exhibited in Pall Mall. There will not be space even for the Cartoons of RANI Ase ; which are doomed to be buried at Hampton Court like so much old lumber, and to be peeped at only as a raree-show. The idea of a picture-gallery styled " National " not including the greatest treasures of art which this or any other country has to boast of, is truly ridiculous. And what room is there for additions to the collection of any extent ? " Oh ! but," it was an- swered when the question was put last session, " the Royal Academy are only temporarily accommodated with the use of the other part of the building." Very likely ! Who does not know, that when once ire the Academy will not move out in a hurry, unless bribed by an- other 40,0 001. for another new building. Besides, has not the Na- tional Galhery been spoiled for the Academy's accommodation? Instead of a noble gallery, presenting an unbroken vista of seve- ral hundred fe et in length, the building is cut in half and frittered . away in separate apartments. One quarter of the whole expense, 1 we should think, is incurred in interior fittings; when all that the nation wanted was one long, lofty room, without any ornament but the glorious works that are to line the walls. The site is small for a National Gallery, even were the whole space oceu- , pied : for room is required to arrange the collection according to . the different schools, and to contain the pictures that may be ! added by purchase or bequest to make the collection complete. It has been urged that the apartments occupied by the Academy in Somerset House are wanted for Government offices, and that therefore the Academy is entitled to compensation. This must be on the sinecure principle. Are the Antiquarian, Geological, and Royal Societies, to be ejected also, and furnished with apartments at the public cost? If it was required to consolidate the public offices, why was the ground for the east wing of Somerset House given to King's College? The excuse, in plainness, seems a mere pretence. But whether or not, we repeat that the Academy lmas done nothing, even for the profession it was instituted to promote, to deserve an outlay of 40,01)01. at the nation's cost : and moreover, such a vote would never have been granted by a " Reformed " Par- liament, but for this juggle of its proposed union with the National Gallery. Let us see now what sort of a building the nation is to be indulged with for its 80,0001.—we wish it may be no more. There is a model of it, and of the surrounding buildings, exhibiting at 23, King William Street (and it is worth spending a shilling to sec, not it merely, but some other very ingenious architectural models, by Mr. DAY): a pretty little toy, truly ! Here is a long, low building of two stories, looking like a range of stabling.—a nu ',re showy sort of Mews than the one now coming down—crowned with a mustard-pot in the centre, and two pepper-boxes at the corners, adorned with gilt lattice-work : a central portico of eielit columns in front, mounted on steps, striles across the footpath intended, of course, to eclipse, in grandeur and beauty, as well as position, the devoted portico of St. Martin's Church, which has been so absurdly admired by every body but Mr. WI LKI NS. The building is pierced by two nice square little holes, garnished with columns at the sides, through which the soldiers are to march to their Barracks, and the paupers crawl to the Workhouse; on the top of the building, over these little door-ways, are bronze cars aid horses,—to denote, we presume, that carts and carriages can pass through. The architect, though he has bullied St. Mar- tin's portico, respects the surrounding buildings, and has taken care not to dwarf them by giving a greater elevation to his new edifice; which is no higher than the adjoining houses; and, in order that it may not shame them by its severe simplicity, hy has cut (ime front up with little unmeaning projections, like some el the houses in Regent Street, and set back time two ends, so that they seem to be after-thought additions to the deeien. As the ;114 floor is to be lighted from the roof, time upper wage of wiielees is left blank, instead of being framed and glazed like tho,:e be- low. In the model, they have little figures stuck in them : lee these will not lie erected, on account of the expense: nor will the bronze curs either. They may form another nice little jell fe sonic lucky sculptor R. A. at a future time.
It would be unfair not to note one striking feature of prrelouce and economy in the midst of this lavish and improvilent expendi- ture ; especially as it shows that the Government have not dk- dained to emulate the worthy example of Mrs. Gilpin :
" Although on splendour it was bent, it had a frugal mind."
The old columns of the portico of Carlton House had been laid aside, to be converted to use on the first occasion; and Mr. WIL- KINS being bent on a portico, it was thought a good opportunity to bring them in. The building, consequently, has been made to fit the portico; which may in some measure account for its mean and petty proportions. It unfortunately happens, however, that the pillars and pediment have sustained so much injury by re- moval and exposure to the weather, that it is very doubtful if the old portico can be used after all. Timis may involve time necessity of a further outlay of a few thousands ; but though the saving he net effected, the building will have been spoiled in the attempt. What more striking proof can be given of time Ministerial desire of eco- nomy which is exercised at such cost? The imputation of " potted foolish" is hazarded, that the darling principle of " penny wive" may be exemplified.
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