The Theatres, &C.

Long , Poynter , Brett—give us works which are not far preferable . Mr . Sargent really excels himself ; every year he improves indelicacy , and he never loses his breadth . No . 195 is a full length portrait of a lady in grey , standing with a large white flower in her hand . It is admirable in every respect . In quality of painting the

fresh brilliant colour , the clear hard drawing , the spirited and natural attitude of this portrait contrasts favourably with the rancid shadows , pasty lights , and flabby outlines of the portrait of Sir John Millais , for instance , by Mr . Frnnk Holl . We are told that mere quality of painting is not everything ; that human interest is

needed to make a fine picture , that without charm and personality all art is at an end , & e . ; the Spectator especially lecturing in this strain . We are qnite ready to grant all this , bnt snrely the Spectator is begging the question when it applies its strictures to Mr . Sargent's work . There is as much grasp of character , refinement of

expression , ease raid charm of style in the portraits of the Misses Vickers as in anything that Sir John Millais ever painted , and as to " mere" quality , there is absolutely no comparison . It is absurd to assume that exquisite painting necessarily excludes human interest , or that a badly painted picture can possibly be a fine work

of nrt . Moreover , bad painting is always rampant in the English Academy . We far prefer the pure English school of Turner , Constable , Walker , Hunt , and we may even include Bnrne Jones , to the mixture of all influences that we perceive on the walls of the Academy . Oily unpleasant quality of flesh painting is a blemish

that is continually thrusting itself npon the eye of the critic . A sort of epidemic of jaundice seems to have broken out , and yearly is on the increase . Mr . Pet tie especially delights in red shadows and y el low lights . His " Mn . icinn " is dying , apparently , of a bad bilious attack , the yellow shadows in the face being most alarming .

The unfortunate elderly gentleman in the sequel to 1 be " Marriage de Convenariee " lo . ks merely as if he wero feeling the effects of too frequent application to the wine which his butler was pouring out two years ago . The same faults of over richness of colonr in shadow we find in Mr . Seymonr Lucas's " Peter the Great at Deptford , " and

in various other pictures . Taking the galleries in their order , Mr . Henry Moore justifies his election with two fine pictures , — "A Breezy Morning , " and "The Haihour's Mouth . " Of his two others , " The Sound of Isla " appears to us rather hot and stale in colour . Mr . Knighton Warren gives ns an agreeable surprise this year ; he

started as an imitator of that feeblest , of painters Mr . Long , but now he comes out with an original solidly painted portrait of " The Marquis Tseng . " lie has not mitigated a shade of the brilliant uniform , and yet , unlike tbe ghastly garishness of Mr . Logsdail , the bright colours are only subordinate . Mr . Poynter has executed a portrait of the

Marqnis of Ripon that is truly amazing . The face is of the quality of a brass medallion , utterly without relief , and of a peculiarly hot orange colour . We pass over Mr . Lc ng and his cats . Mr . Goodall has gone in for elaborate detail in " Puritan and Cavalier , " and " Old Maid , " but the painting is thin and feeble , as is most apparent

in the chalky quality of the taces . Mr . E . Wyly Grier s Amateur is not at all amateurish , the picture being fnll of light , and tbe fignre well drawn and unconventional . Mr . Albert Moore's " Silver " has much of his peculiar charm of tone , colour and scheme , and is rather an improvement on late years . Mr . Pettie is one of the

cleverest and strongest of British artists , but the unfortunate defect of which we have spoken is always in tlie way . The portrait of Mr . Ritchie is no exception ; and although it is vigorous and life-like , it is most unpleasant . M . Mount London has a clever picture , with a quotation from Matthew Arnold ; two shaggy Celtic youths carving

flutes out of reeds . This picture is decidedly French in style , notwithstanding its English quotation . In the next Gallery , No . VI ., there is some good painting in " Domino , " by Mr . Frank Bramley , but the use of the French flat brush is a little too obvious . Mr . John Collier is not at his best in the portraits of the daughters of

William Reed , Esq . By far his richest portraits , it appears to us , are in the Grosvenor . "Maenads , " in Room VIII ., is Academic , but uninteresting . Mr . W . H . Margetson , whoso work we have not before noticed , has two portraits of some importance , of which we prefer " The Squire's Daughter , " which is rather in the

style of Mr . Bonghton . Mr . Logsdail ' s " Preparation for the Procession " is simply awful , in its frantic dottiugs of colour . Brilliant colour is very well in its way , bnt there should be some scheme or sanity . Here there is none . His other picture , a Venetian "Al Fresco , " is even more grotesque ; being an out-of-door subject , the

total absence of tone and atmosphere is enough to make one's eyes ache . It is a pity to see cleverness devoted to making colour scream like a fishwife . Mr . Reid ' s "Shipwreck" is very dramatic , and is of course a good work of art , as all his pictures are , but the treatment is rather ghastly , and there is a queer lurid light over the front

of the picture that does not appear natural . " Preparing for Christmas , " an Irish interior , is a pleasant piece of tone ancl colour , by Mr . Helmick . In the next gallery a glance did not show us anything strikingly good . Mr . Seymour Lucas in "Peter the Great " is—Mr . Seymonr Lucas ; we need say no more ; just as Mr . Marcus

Stone also is—Mr . Marcus Stone , and Mr . Luko Fildes none other than himself . Perhaps repetition is better than imitation—we know not . To proceed . In Gallery No . VIII . is Mr . Sargent ' s "The Misses Vickers , " which we have mentioned before . Suffice it to s-iy here , that it justifies the expectations of it which were aroused by

its high position last year in the French Salon . Mr . Solomon J . Solomon , determined to make a frantic bid for Academic success , has thrown aside his realistic palette , and executed a largo classical piece , " Cassandra " being torn from the n . ltar by some Greek hero —( is it Ajax ?) We cannot congratulate Mr . Solomon on his now departure .

The movement of the figures is at- onco conventional ancl extravagant , the paintiug is not ail that could be desired , and the tragedy is cheap ; in fact , one might say , in tho style of Dr . Johnson , that

the picture is ill-conceived , ill-executed , and ill-hung . Mr . T . Lavery has two clever , broadly-painted effects , which should be noticed here . The gallery of cabinet pictures is not so interesting as last year , although Mr , Sidney Starr contributes a charming im-

The Theatres, &C.

pression of " Finchley Road , " and Mr . Toovey also shows real progress in " The Nimble Penny" —a study of a crowd round a Cheap Jack , which is Loudon all over . Mr . L . Bernard Hall shows one of his small , clever portraits , and Miss Ellen Cooke's "Roses" appears to ns the best of the ten versions of that much hackneyed subject in

this gallery , even including Messs . Fautin and Alma Tadema . In Gallery X . " 'Twixt Power ancl Duty , " by John Bowie , has all the faults of Mr . Pettie , with none of his strength . Mr . Colin Hunter comes oat in a new branch in his portrait of Miss Alice Lyall , which we cannot consider a success , in spite of his subject . In Gallery XL , Mr .

Herman G . Herkomer has a portrait of a grey-haired lady , " Mrs . Stobart , " which is quite worthy of Hubert C . Mr . Henry Moore ' s best picture , in onr opinion , is in this room . Mr . Fantin seldom favours ns with such an important work as his roomful of portraits in " Antour du Piano , " and wo welcome it all the more . Usually

he presents ns with a rather hackneyed version of flowers , bnt when he does come ont in portraiture he shows his great power . Altogether , we consider the exhibition a poor one—not because Mr . Herbert is exasperating , not because Mr . Long is ridiculous , nofc because Mr . Brett is extravagant , but becanse the newer men are

disappointing by their absence or failure . Where is Mr . Gregory ? What has become of Mr . Herkomer ? What is the matter with Mr Bartlett ? Why , oh ! why sky Mr . Lemon ? Whither is Mr . Logsdail going ? Why does Mr . Scholderer hide himself in the

Water-Saturday , the 15 th inst ., has been appointed for the Private View of the Summer Exhibition of the Nineteenth Century Art Society , at the Conduit Street Galleries , and the Exhibition will open to the public on Monday , the 17 th inst .

Alhambra . —The programme provided by the management of thia popular place of amusement for the Easter Holidays has resulted in an all-round success . Variety of every kind is the predominant feature , and , with the aid of an excellent band , a most enjoyable evening can now be spent here . The brothers James go

throngh their acrobatic performance with infinite grace j while great fun is caused by Professor Wingfield's leaping dogs . The marvellous agility displayed by the two Arabs , Abachi and Mazus , is nightly received with rapturous applause ; and , in fact , we have rarely seen a more clever performance . The Hanlon Voltas go throngh their

entertainment npon the triple bars , while Nellie L'Estrange , Jenny Hill , Maud ancl Charlie Ross , Mdlle . Pacra , and J . W . Rowley render good service in carrying out the programme . A special feature of the evening is Mr . Leo . Stonnout ' s rendering of the song "The Shamrock and the Rose . " The successful ballets . " Nina " and " Le

Bivouac" still meet with much favour . During the evening the band , nnder the direction of M . Cazaubon , gives three selections , the last , " Souvenir de Belgrade , " bringing a most successful entertainment to a close . The management announce thafc they will shortly produce "Cupid , " a new ballet divertissement , in which Signorina Besone will make her appearance .

The Dramatic Students . —The fourth performance by the members of this Society will take place at the Royalty Theatre ( kindly lent for the occasion by Miss Kate Santley ) , on Thursday , the 13 th day of May 1886 , at 2 . 30 , when will be produced the Rev . James White ' s drama , "The King of the Commons . "

Bro . W , Waller , of 84 and 86 Tabernacle Street , E . C . ( late of Drury Lane ) , has just issned the 20 th edition of his catalogue of theatrical costumes and furnishiugs , which will be found interesting aud useful to many who are fond of participating in histrionic entertainments , whether of the professional or amateur character .

There are an increasiug number of young people who adopt the rational ancl cultivated recreation of dramatic representations ; and often they are at fault to find the means of securing those accessories which are indispensable to the production of their pieces . They cannot do better than seek the aid of Bro . Waller , who has received hundreds of testimonials from a satisfied clientele as to the manner in which he has catered for them .

colonr Room ? AU these questions are harassing us . Even the assumption that the artists are neglecting the Academy and sending their best works to other galleries does not account for the feebleness of the whole . The general average is fair , but Art does not go by averages , but by individuals .

Masonic Funeral At Falkirk.

MASONIC FUNERAL AT FALKIRK .

ONE of the most imposing spectacles ever witnessed in Falkirk was tho funeral of Bro . John Gillespie , which took place a few days since , with Masonic hononrs . The brethren were marshalled in tho Town Hall , and from there they went to the house of the deceased , in Callender Road , in order of seniority , the youngest , No . 5 SS , taking tho lead , headed by the band of the Falkirk Ironworks ,

which played the "Dead March iu Saul . " The procession left Callender Road at two o ' clock , and all along the streets the way was lined with spectators , and the shutter ., of all tho shops were closed as

a mark of respect . Arrived afc the lasfc resting-place , the coffin was borne by eight of the brethren of the deceased brother's Lodge , and the others closed in around the grave , whero the service appointed for tho burial wag conducted by the chaplain .

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