PANORAMA OF THE BATTLE OR WATERLOO.
THE Panorama of the Battle of Waterloo, which was opened this week in Leicester Square, has been newly painted by Mr. BURFORD, with the assistance of his able coadjutor Mr. SELOUS, from the sketches and drawings made by his predecessor and quondam partner Mr. &Rims, for the panorama of this famous victory, exhibited on the very same spot five-and-twenty years ago but advantage has been taken of the information subsequently obtained to improve the correctness of the representation. The visiter is supposed to view the field from about the centre of the position of the Allied forces near to La Haye Sainte ; and the point of time chosen is that decisive moment towards the close of the battle, when the whole British line were ordered to ad- vance to charge the almost routed enemy. Immediately under the eye on one side, is seen the Duke of Wellington cheering on the Foot Guards to repel the advance of the last column of Napoleon's Imperial Guard ; and on the other, the Marquis of Anglesea is conspicuous heading the final charge of the Household Troops against the French Cuirassiers : opposite, at a distance, Napoleon and his Staff are just visible on an elevated spot in front of La Belle Alliance ; towards the horizon, on the right, is seen Hogoumont in flames, with the British driving the French out of the wood ; and on the left, the Prussians are just visible in the extreme distance. The confusion of the French troops, the steady front shown by the British line, the impetuous onward movement of the advancing squadrons, and the desperate encounter of the foremost men of the contending forces, are depicted with spirit and animation ; and a good idea of the general plan of the battle, as well as of the various incidents of a sanguinary conflict, may be gained from this panoramic picture. Yet it strikes us that the extent of the military operations and the numbers engaged on either side are inadequately represented: the nearest figures close to the eye appear to be the size of life, and necessarily engross a large space of the canvas ; making it difficult to find room in the middle distance, or that space intervening between the immediate foreground and the horizon, for hosts sufficiently numerous : but this disadvantage being incidental to the representation, on a large scale in a limited area, of an extensive battle-field thronged with troops in action, should be allowed for, and parts may be taken as serving to convey an idea of the whole. This excuse, however, does not avail against an objection to the solitude of the surrounding country in the rear towards the wood of Soignies ; which would surely be covered with the baggage of the army, the wounded, and camp- followers.
The execution of the painting is unequal : in many parts it is excel- lent ; especially the charge of cavalry, the buildings of La Haye Sainte, the distant landscape, and the effects of smoke mingling with the atmosphere. The horses are admirably painted, and full of life and vigour ; and the principal figures in the melee of Life Guards and Cuirassiers are masterly in drawing and painting,—though the Marquis of Anglesea, in his embroidered uniform, has the air of a parade- officer showing off at a review ; and the Duke, whose figure and atti- tude are copied from LAWRENCE'S equestrian portrait, seems to be returning a salute rather than cheering on his men at the crisis of the battle. But perhaps this is criticizing too nicely a scenic picture ; the chief recommendation of which is, that it enables the spectators to form a better idea of the carnage at Waterloo than any description or small picture can convey. The ingenious model of the field and the forces engaged, which was exhibited at the Egyptian Hall two or three years since enabled one to understand the nature of the ground and
the plan of fight ; but the heat and fury of the contest—all, in short, that would address the eye at any given moment—a panoramic painting alone can depict.
From this representation of the last famous victory gained by our armies on land, the visiter may ascend to one of the latest achievements of our naval forces, the bombardment of Acre, in the smaller circle of Mr. BURFORD'S Panorama. We may safely predict that these scenes of devastation and bloodshed will be more popular than the peaceful views which they have superseded.
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