COVENT GARDEN.

lar melo-drame has been again acted . dent rather than upon dialogue. at Drury Lane for the benefit of Mr. Advocates, and rustics, and maid Wallack, if not of the public. He servants, are very prominent in the tops these parts, however, well. Mrs. French pieces, and magpies and dogs West played Cora, we believe. We are, as we know here, of no little sometimes wish that she had at her value as performers. Therese is alelbow the monitor of Caius Gracchus. most one of the best melo-drames

Richard III.- Mr. Wallack has that we have seen ; but when Mr. also been adventuring upon Richard Elliston says that " no piece was the Third; but Richard is an awkward ,ever so successful !” he makes one of man to manage, and he is withal too those palpable mistakes which have great for the moderate grasp of Mr. now become so common in play-bills. Wallack. It is not that Mr. W. What a pity it is that puffing cannot played the character so incorrectly be prohibited by act of parliament ! (yet there were some errors) as that he did it imperfectly. He had not A practice has been commenced at the elastic spirit of Richard,-nor his this theatre which, we think, ought bold front and buoyant step; nor had to be condemned, as being likely to he that high and princely gait with overturn both tragedy and comedy. which birth, and proud courage, and It is the custom to adopt a play which the habit of command invested the has either some good comic or tragic son of Plantagenet: bis robes hung parts, and introduce into mouths of heavily on him, his mirth was gloomy, the characters a variety of songs, and his dissimulation laborious and and thus reduce it to an opera; or at artificial; whereas Richard was born once to fashion a play from some poso high' that royalty was almost his pular novel, and mingle tragedy and inheritance ; his spirit was quick and comedy, opera and farce together, lively and subtle, and his deceit too and serve up the heterogenous mixnatural not to be easy to him, and ture to the public. There would be too profound for the eye of a casual ob- no great harm in this, perhaps, if the server. Mr. Wallack, however, made first tragic and comic performers several · hits' in the course of the were not thrust into these medleys, evening, and he did not make them and compelled to act with singers by merely mimicking others; on the and join in chorusses and so forth; .contrary, he fell once or twice into but, the truth is, that when the the opposite error, and became faulty public know that they can see Mr. from a determination to be original. Macready and Mr. Liston, Mr. Chas. Such mistakes are promising and argue Kemble and Mr. Jones, at the same well. Nevertheless Mr. Wallack did time that they hear Miss Stephens and not in our opinion completely develop Miss Tree, they will not attend either the character of Richard : it was a tragedy of Shakspeare or a comedy rather an occasional glimpse which of Congreve. It is by making the he afforded us than a full portrait, and great tragic and comic (particularly we are not sure that, even as it was, the tragic) performers too common, we were satisfied that the likeness that tragedy and comedy are injured; was true.

for if the taste of the public were not Therese.-A new melo-drame has palled by these anomalous mixtures, also appeared under this title. It is it would remain as fresh as ever, and a translation from the French by Mr. would relish Richard, and Othello, John Howard Payne, the author of and Macbeth, as much as in days of

Brutus. It is one of those things old. We once invited a friend to go which, like the Maid and the Magpie, with us to see Macready perform strike very much upon the stage, Virginius, but he declined, saying though they are worthless in the closet. that he could see that tragedian in Yet it is but justice to say, that Mr. Rob Roy and - Miss Stephens also. Payne has (we hear this only) given This anecdote alone is satisfactory to a faithful as well as pleasant trans- us on the point which we have inlation from the original language. It sisted upon. is the fault of the French, and not of Twelfth Night. This charming Mr. Howard Payne, that they ma- comedy has been maltreated like nufacture their dramas from their others, and new songs have been supolice registers, and rely upon inci- peradded to the dialogue which has sing also.

352

always seemed to us so entirely de- Don John, or the Two Violettas. lightful. It is not enough that the Since writing the foregoing, “The stately Olivia should unbend from Chances,” of Beaumont and Flet· her dignity, or that the love-sick cher (or rather of Fletcher alone, we

Viola (who never told her love') believe) has been shaped into an should enact the page, or Maria Opera, under the above title. The play off her jests in the way that names of most of the dramatis personæ Shakspeare has set down, but they have been altered, and songs assigned must do violence to their natures and to the two Violettas, (in the original,

Poor Shakspeare! One the two Constantias)—a band of would have fancied that the com- hunters is created, there being a sort mentators had done enough when of sylvan chorus introduced and the they buried him alive beneath the character of the second Violetta is heaps which idle debate and conjec- purified from the taint that affected ture had piled up:—but no; it was her in her original state. A Miss reserved for the present enlightened Hallande made her first appearance age to assault him more violently on the stage in the character of the than ever,-- to hew and mangle his “ first Violetta.” She was so much finely shaped limbs in a manner terrified that we can as yet scarcely “ unheard of among nations, and judge of her capabilities for the then to serve up this hash of litera- stage ; indeed we could not hear ture as a fit dish for the entertain- much of the dialogue which was asment of the British Public.'

signed to her. Her songs, however, Our readers will observe that there

were given with great effect, and her are two or three songs in the comedy softer notes are quite delightful. She of • Twelfth Night,' but the clown is appears to have a voice of extensive the principal singer: one is so beau- compass, and to possess exceedingly tiful that we shall take leave to tran- good taste. Her second air was sung scribe it for our readers, many of and repeated in a way that altogether whom may not perhaps recollect it.

captivated us, and she seems to unDuke. O fellow come, the song we had derstand the nieaning of the music last night :

as well as the mere letter of it. We Mark it, Cesario ; it is old and plain : confess, that of the two musical deThe spinsters and the knitters in the sun, butantes who have lately come forth, And the free maids, that weave their thread

we prefer, on the whole, Miss Halwith bones,

lande. They are very dissimilar cerDo use to chaunt it; it is silly sooth, And dallies with the innocence of love,

tainly, one being excessively timoLike the old age.

rous, and the other having a perfect Clown. Are you ready, sir ?

self-possession ; the one affects our Duke. Ay; pr’ythee, sing.

fancy only, but the other, in some

measure, touches our heart. Miss Clown. Come away, come away, death,

Stephens's voice sounded shrilly we And in sad cypress let me be laid ;

thought, when she sang with Miss Fly away, Ay away, breath ;

Hallande, whose tones are less clear, I am slain by a fair cruel maid.

and are, what musicians we believe, My shroud of white stuck all with yew,

call “ veiled;" but she acquitted O, prepare it;

herself very prettily in a lively part. My part of death no one so true

Charles Kemble played excellently Did share it.

as Don John, and Jones seconded Not a flower, not a flower sweet, him very well; but Liston's part was On my black coffin let there be strewn; unworthy of him, and he produced Not a friend, not a friend greet

but little effect in it. My poor corpse, where my bones shall be

We have said nothing of the play thrown :

itself; perhaps we may touch upon A thousand thousand sighs to save, it next month, but at present we Lay me, 0, where, have not space.

A. Sal true lover ne'er find my grave,

To weep there.

SONG.

GLEANINGS FROM FOREIGN JOURNALS.

a

THE SWEDISH SCULPTORS SERGEL AND BÜSTRÖM. Of these celebrated artists,-who, Sergel was one of the first artists with their Danish contemporary, who adopted the system of Mengs Thorvaldsen, hare cast such and Winckelmann, and who abansplendour on the arts of their re- doning the vicious style, still prespective countries, that it may well be dominating among the imitators of termed a luminous Aurora Borealis Bernini, applied themselves to the —the first, J. Tobias Sergel studied study of nature and the antique. It sculpture at Stockholm (of which is owing to this, that his works form place he was a native,) under such a contrast with those of his early L'Archeveque, a French artist, who contemporaries, and obtained for was employed to model the eques- him such distinguished approbation trian statue of Gustavus Adolphus, from all real connoisseurs. His proafterwards cast in bronze. He ductions became universally esteemwent subsequently to both Paris ed, and he himself obtained the flatand Rome, at which latter place he tering cognomen of the Swedish Phi. continued twelve years. During his dias. residence in that city he produced Sergel was, in fact, formed by nathe following works, viz. a recum- ture to be a great artist ; he posbent Faun, about half the size of sessed a lively imagination and plaslife ;-Diomed carrying off the Palla- tic powers, by means of which he dium, a figure as large as life: this was enabled to conceive his objects statue is now in England;- Venus in a lively and forcible manner. His stepping out of the bath and drying style is severe; his forms are well herself ; - Psyche kneeling before Cu- defined ; and yet there is somewhat pid, and intreating him not to desert of mannerism in the execution. He her : this groupe, which was begun had early imbibed what the French at Rome, was not finished till after term energie and tact; nor was he the artist's return to Stockholm ; as ever able to divest himself completewas the case with another smaller ly of it, however incompati with the one, representing Mars support- pure definition of character; hence it ing Venus, who has been wounded happens that not a few even of his by Diomede.

most masterly productions, for inThe following subjects were exe- stance his recumbent Faun, in spite of cuted by him at Stockholm:-a groupe the felicity of the ensemble, appear to containing a figure of History, to be rather excellent academical subwhom the Chancellor Oxenstiern is jects, than chaste and well-maturrecounting the exploits of Gustavus ed representations of individual and Adolphus, in order that she may ce- idiosyncratic character. Sergel was lebrate them : this is of colossal di- nevertheless far superior to the genemensions; and was intended to have rality of modern sculptors; he was been cast in bronze to decorate the the first to open a new career of art, pedestal of that hero's monument, and to excite by his example others but has not yet been executed.- to enter it. Sweden may, therefore, A model for a monument to the ce- justly boast of having produced in ·lebrated Cartesius, representing a him the restorer of a purer taste, and flying genius, who with one hand is of a chaster style in sculpture, which uncovering a celestial globe, and with has since been pursued more or less sucthe other holds a torch to enlighten cessfully by Trippel of Schaffhausen, it. His next undertaking was a Zauner a Tyrolese, Christopher Jussen model for the colossal statue of Gus- an Irishman, and more recently by the tavus the Third, which was cast in two illustrious living artists, Canova bronze, as a monument to the ho- and Thorvaldsen.* Thus much renour of that sovereign; and besides specting Sergel's genius as an artist: these greater works, he executed a with regard to his personal character number of busts and medallions, of and habits, he indulged in a species both public and private characters. of liberal cynicism, enjoying his for

* To these England is proud to be able to add the name of Chantry.

of his age.

was

tune with his friends, and revelling depends not only animated expresin the contemplation of undisguised sion, but likewise, in a great degree, nature. This disposition induced the stamp of originality. Since even him to found the Bacchanalia that an excellently modelled figure must, used to be held privately by the ar- when executed in marble by another tists at Rome : they were kept hand, lose a considerable portion of twice a month at his own residence its individuality, for want of that in that city ; for, owing to the liberal accordance with the original conceppension allowed him by Gustavus III, tion, and those Promethean sparks and what he gained by his profes- of vitality which impart life to the sion, his income was very consider- inert mass : consequently let such a able. Of these festive meetings He- work be ever so well arranged as to inse has given us a faint echo in his its ensemble, it will be apt to carry Romance of Ardinghello.

with it, to a discriminating eye, the Sergel's talent was highly esteem- constrained air of a copy. In order ed in Sweden ; where he was created to avoid this defect, the young artist by Gustavus a knight of the polar applied himself sedulously to this star. He was personally attached difficult province of his art; and, as to that monarch, whom he regarded nature had gifted him with considernot merely as his patron but as his able manual dexterity, and he purfriend ; and such was the grief he sued his labours incessantly and infelt at his untimely death, that he defatigably, he overcame all his imseemed from that hour to lose all pediments much sooner than he himrelish either for bis life or for his art. self had expected, so that he may Sergel died in 1813, in the 77th year now be classed foremost among those

artists who work this material with Johann Nicolaus Büström, his pu- facility and freedom. It was partipil, was born at Philippstadt, in the cularly fortunate for Büström, that year 1783, and was intended by his he visted Rome at a period when an parents for trade; but they dying, he attachment to the fine arts was enabled to follow his own in- developing itself in Sweden, unclination-which led him to devote der the auspices of Gustavus and himself enthusiastically to sculpture. his royal brother, Charles XIII; His circumstances enabling him to for, in consequence of this, many travel, he immediately proceeded to of the Swedish nobility, and other Stockholm for the purpose of attend- rich individuals of that country, ing the academy, and particularly were induced, by a patriotic zeal, to of enjoying the instructions of Ser- encourage the young artist, by imgel. Endowed by nature with a portant commissions, most of which mild and steady disposition, and with he has since executed. The regard a pleasing exterior, the young artist which the student felt for his first insoon acquired the friendship of his structor was returned by the paterinstructor, who felt himself attached nal kindness of Sergel; who, not to his pupil, and was anxious for his contented with imparting to him, in improvement. Büström studied un- his letters, advice respecting the der Sergel for three years, partly most advantageous prosecution of after the antique and partly from his studies, and with constantly ennature: but his master would not couraging him to unceasing persee permit him to copy any of his own verance, declared that he was worworks, considering them-with a thy to succeed him; and obtained rare modesty-as models not of suf- for him a grant of the residence ficient authority, and too little to be which he himself occupied at Stockdepended upon. In 1810, Büström holm, and which had been erected proceeded to Rome, and it was in for him on his return from Rome, at this “ city of the soul” that the the expence of the government. It young artist's views expanded them- was for the purpose of taking posselves. Hitherto he had only mo- session of this inheritance, after Ser. delled in clay, but he now perceived gel's death, and at the same time of that it was indispensably necessary carrying into execution some other for him to work in marble ; for on designs that Büström returned to the acquisition of facility and con- Stockholm in 1815. In his last letfidence in this manner of execution ters to his pupil, Sergel had spoken

cænas.

with such a lively enthusiasm of the cithara.-12. A sitting statue of Cegreat qualities of the newly-chosen res ;-with the exception of the firstCrown Prince, and of their beneficial mentioned subject, all the preceding influence over every department of are of the size of life.-13. A colosthe government,-particularly over sal statue of the present King of the fine arts, that the young artist Sweden.--14. A colossal bust of the felt an irresistible desire to obtain same Prince. the patronage of so illustrious a Me- Of all these works, the artist

not only formed the models himTo this end, he prepared a colos- self, but likewise executed them in sal statue of this hero, finished en- marble: if we consider besides the tirely except the head, which he pur- many busts which he has produced of posely deferred executing until his private individuals, most of which are arrival in Sweden, in order that he likewise in marble--and his journey might there execute it from nature. to Stockholm, which occupied more His plan was eminently successful, than a year, we shall be suprised at for on his arrival he was employed finding how much he has accomto model not only a likeness of the plished in so short a period. WhoCrown Prince, but likewise those of ever has examined the productions of the King and Queen. He had now this artist, impartially and dispasan opportunity of employing himself sionately, cannot but have perceived secretly upon the statue at his lei- that, whether they have been immesure, and caused it to be presented diately taken from mature,-have one day to the Prince, when the lat- been the conceptions of his own imater had invited him to dinner. This gination, or the suggestions derived trait of his attachment had its de- from other works of art-they are sired effect: the Prince not only free from all extraneous impulse, and thanked the artist for the agreeable from every thing resembling affected surprize which he had thus procured naiveté and artificial grace-conhim, assuring him at the same time, ceived with gusto, and executed with of his protection—but expressed his spirit. satisfaction, by declaring that he Faithfully adhering to the system should wish to be considered as the introduced by his excellent predecespurchaser of whatever works Büs- sor; namely, that nature and the tröm might execute on his own ac- antique together are to be considered count; at the same time, giving him as the career in which alone we may a commission for colossal statues of hope, according to the present situathe three heroes, Charles X. XI. and tion of things, to attain that which is XII. But that neither courtly fa- excellent and perfect in art, since the vour, nor his intercourse with bril- true and the beautiful is the soundest liant society, abated his industry, is support for every style-adhering to evident from the number of his this, he has constantly avoided all works, of which the following is a those byc-paths that would mislead list.

him from this system, and endeavoured 1. An intoxicated Bacchante, as much as possible to approach perhalf the size of life, in a recumbent fection in the manner most consonant posture ;-such was the admiration to this principle. And although in excited by this figure, that the artist many of the above-noticed worksbas repeated it three times.—2. A for instance, in his Drunken Cupid, drunken Cupid, who has seized the his groupe of the sleeping Juno, attributes of Bacchus.-3. A female and the colossal bust of the King of dancer.-4. A groupe intended for a Sweden, in the first, for the invenmonument of the Montgomery fa- tion, in the latter, for the beauty of mily: it consists of a genius, support the details,--he may challenge any ing a mother, who is lamenting the productions of modern sculpture; yet premature death of a beloved son.- the artist does not consider what he 5. Pandora.-6. Hygeia.-7. Bac- has already achieved to be so much chus.-8. Venus binding up her tres- the goal and aim, as it is an adses, as preparatory to entering the vance in his progress towards it, by bath.-9. Euterpe.-10. A sleeping means of which he is striving to Juno, with an infant Hercules at her raise himself still higher in his art; breast.ll. Apollo playing on the for, compared with what remains to