Ir has often excited our. surprise that Painting does not flourish more abundantly in Shanghai than it appears to do. We have amateurs who excel in nearly all the other arts. The musical talent of the community is acknowledged, and the Philharmonic Concerts give annually ample proofs of the vocal and instrumental proficiency of our orchestra. The stage has still many versatile performers on its boards, as the last entertainment given by the A. D. ©. testified; and when the new Ly-caum rises from the ashes of the old house, we shall hope to seas bright an array of stars as ever shone in past days in the Theatrical firmament.
Tt would be unfair to deny that, in connection with the Theatre, much artistic talent is developed. We have had some very charming scenes painted by our local Beverleys and Telbins, and the act drops that have from time to time been contributed by amateurs have, as Mr. Barlow would say, " pleased us vastly." Still there has never been an organised society to bring artists and the lovers of pictures together, and to awaken a similar interest in painting to that which is excited on the subject of music. So far as we know, there has never been an attempt made here institute a Club of amateurs amongst whom the bond of union should be a ling rills, no towering mountains. The City and the Settlement alike stand in the midst of edend level plain, and there seems nothing for the eye to rest on, save monotony. In a country where there are a number of objects that inspire the pencil, persons with even small Jeisure and talent would be stirred up into activity; but here, if landscape subjects are required, they have tobe hunted out and are not found without some expenditure of time in the search. It is true that it is nob easy to imagine finer cloud effects than one sees on autumn evenings in Shanghai, but the earth, though according to Keats its " poetry is never dead," yet contrives to remain in a state of torpor not very far removed from death, and has little indeed to attract the resident whose power of observing has been lessened by use, The paddyfields, dotted with frequent graves, are not beautiful objects, and the yellow and sluggish waters of the creeks are, if possible, more hideous than the vast and cheerless cemetery through which the muddy waters creep so tardily. But, granting all this, China has subjects for the pencil. The streets of the Native cities, though terrible to the nose, are not without a thousand attractions to the eye. The gold emblazoned signboards, the quaint. ly and curiously carved fronts of the houses; the gaily coloured lanterns, and, above all, the ever changing groups of men, women and children, would supply the sketcher with many a picture if he would enter into the spirit of the scene. The Temples are really capable of artistic treatment, and the fragments of gray old city walls, with watchtower and joss-house, are "bits" not to be passed over with a cursory glance.
New interest would be given to the Boat Trip, if the excursionist took his notebook and his colouring box with him, and gave us some free and yet literal transcripts of the scenes through which he passed. The natives every. where and always are, we confess, objectionably dirty; but, strange to say, all artists know that extreme personal filth may ce-exist with extreme picturesqueness. The Eastern scenes of Lewis and Goodall have, for years, delighted beholders on the walls of the Royal Academy; yet it would he unwise too curiously to consider whether those swart Nubian slaves and solemn sheiks were all strictly attentive to the claims of the bath. If we bring an educated eye to the contemplation of Chinese Life, even if that life be in so dull a city as Shanghai, we shall find opportunities for the exercise of the limner's art, and a good plea for founding a Sketching Club. love of Drawing and Painting. Nothing like the English "Graphic" or the German "Paint Box" has ever been started.
In explanation of this omission it may be urged that the scenery of Shanghai cannot be described as attractive, We have no umbrageous groves, no spark.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.