按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
by frowning on all occasions most portentously。 This figure；
borrowed from the compositor's desk； will give a notion of what we
mean。 Wild's face is too violent for the great man of history （if
we may call Fielding history）； but this is in consonance with the
ranting； frowning； braggadocio character that Mr。 Ainsworth has
given him。
The 〃Interior of Willesden Church〃 is excellent as a composition；
and a piece of artistical workmanship； the groups are well arranged；
and the figure of Mrs。 Sheppard looking round alarmed； as her son is
robbing the dandy Kneebone； is charming； simple； and unaffected。
Not so 〃Mrs。 Sheppard ill in bed；〃 whose face is screwed up to an
expression vastly too tragic。 The little glimpse of the church seen
through the open door of the room is very beautiful and poetical： it
is in such small hints that an artist especially excels； they are
the morals which he loves to append to his stories； and are always
appropriate and welcome。 The boozing ken is not to our liking； Mrs。
Sheppard is there with her horrified eyebrows again。 Why this
exaggerationis it necessary for the public？ We think not； or if
they require such excitement； let our artist； like a true painter as
he is； teach them better things。*
* A gentleman （whose wit is so celebrated that one should be very
cautious in repeating his stories） gave the writer a good
illustration of the philosophy of exaggeration。 Mr。 was once
behind the scenes at the Opera when the scene…shifters were
preparing for the ballet。 Flora was to sleep under a bush； whereon
were growing a number of roses； and amidst which was fluttering a
gay covey of butterflies。 In size the roses exceeded the most
expansive sunflowers； and the butterflies were as large as cocked
hats；the scene…shifter explained to Mr。 ； who asked the reason
why everything was so magnified； that the galleries could never see
the objects unless they were enormously exaggerated。 How many of
our writers and designers work for the galleries？
The 〃Escape from Willesden Cage〃 is excellent； the 〃Burglary in
Wood's house〃 has not less merit； 〃Mrs。 Sheppard in Bedlam；〃 a
ghastly picture indeed； is finely conceived； but not； as we fancy；
so carefully executed； it would be better for a little more careful
drawing in the female figure。
〃Jack sitting for his picture〃 is a very pleasing group； and savors
of the manner of Hogarth； who is introduced in the company。 The
〃Murder of Trenchard〃 must be noticed too as remarkable for the
effect and terrible vigor which the artist has given to the scene。
The 〃Willesden Churchyard〃 has great merit too； but the gems of the
book are the little vignettes illustrating the escape from Newgate。
Here； too； much anatomical care of drawing is not required； the
figures are so small that the outline and attitude need only to be
indicated； and the designer has produced a series of figures quite
remarkable for reality and poetry too。 There are no less than ten
of Jack's feats so described by Mr。 Cruikshank。 （Let us say a word
here in praise of the excellent manner in which the author has
carried us through the adventure。） Here is Jack clattering up the
chimney； now peering into the lonely red room； now opening 〃the door
between the red room and the chapel。〃 What a wild； fierce； scared
look he has； the young ruffian； as cautiously he steps in； holding
light his bar of iron。 You can see by his face how his heart is
beating！ If any one were there！ but no！ And this is a very fine
characteristic of the prints； the extreme LONELINESS of them all。
Not a soul is there to disturb himwoe to him who shouldand Jack
drives in the chapel gate； and shatters down the passage door； and
there you have him on the leads。 Up he goes！ it is but a spring of
a few feet from the blanket； and he is goneabiit； evasit； erupit！
Mr。 Wild must catch him again if he can。
We must not forget to mention 〃Oliver Twist；〃 and Mr。 Cruikshank's
famous designs to that work。* The sausage scene at Fagin's； Nancy
seizing the boy； that capital piece of humor； Mr。 Bumble's
courtship； which is even better in Cruikshank's version than in
Boz's exquisite account of the interview； Sykes's farewell to the
dog； and the Jew；the dreadful Jewthat Cruikshank drew！ What a
fine touching picture of melancholy desolation is that of Sykes and
the dog！ The poor cur is not too well drawn； the landscape is stiff
and formal； but in this case the faults； if faults they be； of
execution rather add to than diminish the effect of the picture： it
has a strange； wild； dreary； broken…hearted look； we fancy we see
the landscape as it must have appeared to Sykes； when ghastly and
with bloodshot eyes he looked at it。 As for the Jew in the dungeon；
let us say nothing of itwhat can we say to describe it？ What a
fine homely poet is the man who can produce this little world of
mirth or woe for us！ Does he elaborate his effects by slow process
of thought； or do they come to him by instinct？ Does the painter
ever arrange in his brain an image so complete； that he afterwards
can copy it exactly on the canvas； or does the hand work in spite of
him？
* Or his new work； 〃The Tower of London；〃 which promises even to
surpass Mr。 Cruikshank's former productions。
A great deal of this random work of course every artist has done in
his time； many men produce effects of which they never dreamed； and
strike off excellences； haphazard； which gain for them reputation；
but a fine quality in Mr。 Cruikshank； the quality of his success； as
we have said before； is the extraordinary earnestness and good faith
with which he executes all he attemptsthe ludicrous； the polite；
the low； the terrible。 In the second of these he often； in our
fancy； fails； his figures lacking elegance and descending to
caricature； but there is something fine in this too： it is good that
he SHOULD fail； that he should have these honest naive notions
regarding the beau monde； the characteristics of which a namby…pamby
tea…party painter could hit off far better than he。 He is a great
deal too downright and manly to appreciate the flimsy delicacies of
small societyyou cannot expect a lion to roar you like any sucking
dove； or frisk about a drawing…room like a lady's little spaniel。
If then； in the course of his life and business； he has been
occasionally obliged to imitate the ways of such small animals； he
has done so； let us say it at once； clumsily； and like as a lion
should。 Many artists； we hear； hold his works rather cheap； they
prate about bad drawing； want of scientific knowledge：they would
have something vastly more neat； regular； anatomical。
Not one of the whole band most likely but can paint an Academy
figure better than himself； nay； or a portrait of an alderman's lady
and family of children。 But look down the list of the painters and
tell us who are they？ How many among these men are POETS （makers）；
possessing the fac