THE NEW NATIONAL GALLERY.
A NATIONAL Picture Gallery is at last determined upon; and the fiat for the erection of the building has gone forth, in the shape of a grant of 15,000/. towards the expense, which is estimated at 50,000/. The Times says the Nation would not grudge 100,0001.; we Wish it may cost no more. Were it a Royal Palace, we should believe in no limit ; as it is, we have some hopes, though they are founded on the niggardly spirit of the instructions, rather than on the economy of the plan. The site chosen is that at present oc- cupied by the Old Mews, opposite Charing Cross ; a most advan- tageous spot for a fine public building, and a fitting locality for such an edifice, it being of considerable length with very little depth. The proposed building is to be 460 feet long and about 56 wide ; and if the entire space were to be appropriated to the Na- tional Picture Gallery, one of great magnificence in point of ex- tent and proportions might be formed, almost to 'rival that of the Louvre. But the Government, as though resolved that the Na- tion should not wax proud of its taste and munificence, have par- celled out this fine space into three, and shared it with a Re- cord Office and a Royal Academy : we wonder the New Police or the Post Office did not come in for a slice. We are not acquainted with the design or the details of the plan, for none has been pub- lished. We must trust to fate and Mr.WILKINS, the architect, for a handsome structure. Thus much, however, we are told in the Parliamentary paper, that the Portico of Carlton House is to adorn the centre,—which is therefore to be appropriated to hall, vesti- bules, staircases, &c.; the east wing to the Royal Academy, and the west to the National Gallery ; in the basement story of which the Records are to be deposited.
What claim has the Royal Academy upon the Nation, that it should have a building erected for it at the public cost at all, much less that it should be accommodated at the expense of cutting in twain a fine public edifice? It has had apartments rent free ever since it has been a corporate body ; and the proceeds of sixty- four annual exhibitions, of from three to five thousand pounds each, might have enabled it to erect a suitable building without coming to the Nation for one. What has the Royal Laderny done for Fine Art ? or in what way has it promoted the interests of artists— except those of its own self-elected, irresponsible body ? Artists may rejoice at the prospect of their pictures being in future placed in a proper light, without being thrust down on the floor or up to the ceiling, and we congratulate them upon it; but are the defi- ciencies of light and space of the Royal Academy's Exhibition- rooms to be supplied only by sacrificing the nation's taste, as well as squandering the public money? Mr. HOME hinted at the mis- deeds of the Academy, and hoped they would behave better in future. Spoiled children, however, are not apt to improve after a lavish gift has been bestowed upon them. But had they fulfilled their duty satisfactorily, still they have no more claim than a pri- vate company of individuals. They even take this ground as an exemption from publicity or censure of their proceedings, and a justification of their preference of their own interests to those of the great body of artists.
-Then, as regards the Records : what possible connexion have they with pictures ? True, the floors of the building are to be fire- proof, and therefore suitable for a depot of these invaluable docu- ments. But why not place them with the others in the Tower, or find room for them in the new State Paper Office ? As regards security from fire, by the way, the dwelling-house of the Keeper of the Royal Academy forming part of the building, is not in favour .of the safety of the pictures. What did it cost the country to re- build the Customhouse, when burnt down by a fire that originated
• Dictionary of Commerce, p. 71.
in the apartments of the Housekeeper? • Fire should not be suf. &red within the walls of such a' building as a picture gallery ; even the stove that heated the air for warming the rooms should be apart from it.
If the new building must be divided with the Royal Academy, we do not find fault with the proposed plan for having the stair- cases, &c., in the centre. But we cannot help protesting against
frittering away a fine interior perspective in this manner, under any circumstances. What constitutes the distinguishing grandeur and beauty of the Gallery of the Louvre, but the glorious vista, along
which the eye glances, taking in the gorgeous effect of the colours
of the pictures that adorn its walls ? Let the entrance and portico front that of St. Martin's Church,—the columns that ornamented Carlton House are worthy of stich propinquity ; and then let us have a simple, unbroken façade, fronting Charing Cross. What scope for the architect !—neither windows nor chimneys, those two great eyesores in modern buildings, to interfere with the classic elegance of the design. We can fancy how the ancients would avail them-
selves of such an opportunity. A stately colonnade;: or a facade with pilasters supporting a frieze sculptured in bas relief, with
statues in niches in the intercolumniations ; or with statues raised upon the cornice above the capitals of each pillar. These would neither suit our climate, our economy, nor our school of arts ; but much might be done, if the whole building were appropriated to its proper purpose—that of a National Gallery alone.
Let us see what space we have, that we thus lavishly bestow a sheer half upon a Royal Academy. The extent of the building is 460 feet : deducting 60 at the least for vestibules, staircases, &c., there remain two lengths of at the utmost 200 feet each,—one for the National Gallery, and the other for the Royal Academy. So that our much-talked of National Gallery will consist of four apartments, each measuring 50 feet one way, by 32, 38, and 50 feet respectively ; and four "cabinets," for small pictures, or for the use of the Keeper. What a paltry job is this ! Fifty thou- sand pounds for four saloons and four cabinets ! And this for a National Picture Gallery? Why, it would scarcely contain a collection like that of the Marquis of STAFFORD; and there will be little more than room for the pictures that at present belong to the nation, when the Cartoons are added to it,—for, of course, these immortal works will no longer be hidden at Hampton Court. Besides, there are many pictures in that and other Royal collec- tions which would be more appreciated here than where they are. Not that we would despoil the Palace of its finest ornaments ; but some of the old pictures, in contact with gold and damask, are esteemed merely as venerable lumber. There will be very little or no space for future acquisitions of pictures; especially as those most likely to be presented to the Nation, by the owners of collections, are large works, for viewing which a private dwelling scarcely atfords a proper light. A bequest to the country of art entire collection, such as the Marquis of WESTMINSTER'S, would make it necessary to erect another building, or at least to eject the Royal Academy. For there is no room for the addition of a wing to the proposed building, in case of need ; except by pulling down the new Barracks at the back. These, indeed, are a horrid nuisance, and ought never to have been erected on such a spot : but soldiers are so dear to a government, that to give up a bar- rack were like parting with a tooth.
We are not without hope, that if the public will stir in the mat- ter, we may yet have a Gallery, not to fit our present small collec- tion of paintings merely, but proportioned to the probable extent
of this part of Nation's wealth. But now is the time to act: hereafter it will be too late.
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