ABSTRACT
581 The change which this society has effected Ly ilie removal of their exhibition has numerous advantages which were not attaiuable where the exhibition was held last year. The Egyptian Hall is within that circle wherein the majority of the Art-exhibitions have their fixed and well-known abodes : it may, therefore, be supposed that this institution will be less likely to be passed over by visitors to other collections than if it had been established remote from the region conseeratcd to Art. The room is spacious: it’ lightsd to advantage the ancient pictures of Lord Ward, and therefore shows, even more satisfactorily works which do not contain large proportions of shaded gradations. The number of works exhibited is live hundred and eighty-two, in which every branch of painting may be said to be represented. Some ladies who are eminent in the practice of Art have not contributed; and others, who have achieved distinction, have not sent examples of their best efforts. But, as it is, we confess surprise at the existence of such an array of unrecognised talent among our countrywomen. When those of their works that have been seen were widely distributed, and when a great proportion of their labours was never exhibited, their merits could not be estimated ; but now that their efforts are brought before the public in a collective form—knowing, though we do, something of the Art-progress of our time—we are compelled to avow that Art has been taken up by the other sex with an earnestness of which we had no conception. The figure, and the extremities, are the great difficulties in drawing; but there are in this exhibition figures drawn with a truth that raises the question as to the attainment of the education by which such things have been effected. We express no surprise at the facility with which the female professors of Art in France paint the figure, because there the commencement of all instruction is academical drawing. But that which we see at the Egyptian Hall is the result of assiduous self-tuition, for we have no school for the instruction of ladies in painting from the living model. Laboiiring uuder such disadvantages as the female student does, we are not disappointed to see here so many drawings of flowers, fruit, and still-life objects—we are only surprised into exultation to see so much excellence in the higher departments of Art. There are on these walls landscape and figure-subjeets which would do honour to any exhibition. There is now an end in female education to parti-coloured butterflies and favourite canaries : we are surrounded here by evidences of the severest study, and those ladies who wish to gain a shred of reputation must sit down patiently with their best instructress—Nature.
