London Art Exhibitions of 1873 [pp. 162-171]

164 LONDON A1?T EXHJBfTJONS OF 1873. [AUGUST,
noon "-a country which this artist ap- standing about or lounging in the sterns,
parently claims for his own. The new waiting for darkness, to go to sea and
landscape associate, Mr. Peter Graham, commence their work. The wide exwhose striking picture, "The Home of panse of the gently ruffled sea beginthe Sea-birds," was so much admired ning to darken with the approach of
last year, vindicates his el~ction nobly night is realized with rare skill and powin his large canvas, entitled "Wind," a er. The picture is perfection in its way.
relief and contrast to his fellow-asso- He has two others, similar in subject
ci ate's perpetual afternoons. A mount- and treatment. I think Mr. Hunter is
ain torrent is tearing down its rock- a good investment. "Foundered," by
strewn bed; a belt of Scotch firs on the Mr. Wyllie, is another marine picture of
bank is swaying and bending before the merit. A ship has stranded on a desofurious blast; and a chill, watery ghost late shore. A huge incoming roller,
of a sunset forebodes "an awful night." toppling to its fall, conceals the hull,
One of the great pictures of the year leaving only the masts visible over its
is F. Good all's "The Subsiding of the green crest, above which clouds of seaNile." In the foreground a party of birds are hovering and screaming; while
wandering Arabs are driving a herd of in the foreground, on the storm-washed
gaunt buffaloes and a flock of sheep beach, some more ghostly white and
across a slough of the subsiding Nile. black birds are stalking about in the
The time is sunrise, which steeps the deepening twilight, the embodied ghosts,
Pyramid of Cheops in soft, tender light, perhaps, of the drowned crew.
and gilds the endless expanse of the One of the few good historical pictgreat desert beyond. It is a noble pict- tures on the walls this year is that by
ure, not obviously picturesque, but im- Ward, R. A.: "The Visit of Charles
pressive by its evident truthfulness. Mr. IX. to the wounded Admiral, Coligny,
Goodall possesses great artistic knowl- on the Eve of St. Bartholomew." The
edg~, and paints with astonishing rapid- life of the Admiral has just been atity. I am told that this large picture, tempted, and the grand old man, his
with its plentiful details, only occupied arm in a sling, is lying in bed, earnestly
him eight weeks. whispering in the ear of the young King,
Among the painters of the sea, P. Gra- who bends over him. The Queen-mothham, Colin Hunter, and Edwin Hayes er, Catharine de Medicis, and her youngare the most prominent. The last is er son (aware of the coming massacre)
a member of the R. H. S., and is more are standing apart, and watch suspiciousparticularly than the two first a marine ly the interview between the leader of
painter, inasmuch as Mr. Hayes deals the Huguenots and the irresolute King.
mostly with the open sea, which he un- M. Teligny (one of the first victims of
derstands in all its varied phases. His St. Bartholomew), with his sweet young
having been to sea in his youth stands wife, the daughter of the Admiral, is
him in good stead, as it did Stanfield, waiting for the termination of the royal
and his sea-pictures satisfy the sailor as visit to approach the bedside of his fawell as the artist. Mr. C. Hunter is a ther-in -law. The incident is well told
young man, coming rapidly to the front. on canvas, and the varied expressions
His "Travelers Waiting for Darkness" of the different drarnatis ~erson~ are
is a masterpiece. It is simply a piece nicely distinguished, without being unof shore, near which are anchored a duly forced.
couple of boats, laden with nets and Among the animal painters we have
gear for night-fishing. The men are probably seen the last by the best of all