LECTURES AT THE ROYAL ACADEMY.
MR. WEST MACOT T concluded his course of Lectures on Sculpture on Mon day evening, with an examination of the works of Roman art, and an inquiry into the causes of the decline of sculpture from the subjugation of Greece by the Romans, till the consummation of its ruin in the fifth century. "The history of art," said the Professor, "will be found in the history of the character of the people." The lecturer entered into an animated dis- cussion of the merits and defects of MICHAEL ANGELO, illustrated by a critical examination of his principal works : he spoke of BACCIO BANDI- NELLI and BENVENUTO CELLINI, characterizing the latter as an ingenious modeller, but principally admirable for his skill in metal-casting, and for the sound and philosophical basis upon which he placed that art. He denounced BERNINI and his school, spoke of CANOVA as the restorer of legitimate art in sculpture, and of FLAXMAN as the first designer since its revival. The learned Professor concluded his admirable and valuable course of lectures, by observing that the works of great men were the best teachers, and recommending the study of the Elgin marbles as the sublimest productions of the art.
On Thursday evening, Mr. PHILLIPS concluded his valuable and interest- ing course of Lectures on Painting, by a philosophical discourse upon Chiaro- scuro ; which he defined to consist, not merely in the effect of light and shade, but in the union and employment of those effects to the purposes of the artist in producing grandeur and beauty in his pictures. The Professor considered it to be next in importance to design in painting, and he enlarged upon its value and capabilities, tracing its splendid effects in the " Notte" of CORREGIO, the " St. Peter Martyr" of TITIAN, and the works of LEONARDO DA VINCI, REMBRANDT, RURENS, Sir JOSHUA REYNOLDS, Opus, FUSEL', and WEST. The Professor concluded a delightful lee., ture, by discussing the question, whether a rich colouring and picturesque arrangements of chiaroscuro tended to detract from the grandeur of high art ; in which he held an opinion in the negative. In remarking that truth of representation is the real source of pleasure derivable from the contempla- tion of paintings, and that its value consists in the purity and elevation of the emotions it excites, the Professor observed, that the delineation of a fleeting expression or accidental peculiarity in an individual likeness is detrimetttal to the geuerai character of the portrait.
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