Most of the critics are agreed that it isa good Academy exhibition distinctly above the average of recent years. The picture which will probably be regarded by visitors generally ax the Dest of the show is Mr. Abbey's "Trial of Queen Katherin though Mr. Frank Dicksee's "Two Crowns? will probably run it hard. They are both great works. Mr, Abbey hes expended enormous ariount of Inbour on his scene from Shakespeare's Henry VIII, which indyed only failed to appear in last year's exhibition because the artist would not allow himself to be hurried with it. It is Tike most of Mr, Abbey's works, somewhat high in colouri harmonious,: of character and tells its. story admirably. Frank Dicksee's work is of higher poetical ai The central figure isa young monarch wh in the midst of " triumphal march, i rested by the sight of "wayside cross, with the figure of Christ crowned with thorns, The expression of his face as he weighs earthly against spiritual glory has been admirably conceived; and' the work, which has, I believe, been purchased by the Chantrey bequest, well deserves a permanent place in our national collection of British Art. The work, however, which is regarded by expert critics as the greatest in the slow is Mr. Sargent's portrait group of Lady Elcho, Mrs. Adeane, and Mrs. Tennant, the three beautiful daughters of Mr. and Mrs. Percy Wyndham, and rapddaughters of the Bud of Leconfield. the picture has been declared superior to some of the best work of Millais, and equal to that of Reynolds.
'A portrait group which, however, will attract even more attention is that of the Queen, the Prince of Wales, the Duke of York and the young Prince Edward. It has been painted my Mr. Orchardson for the Royal Agricultural Society, and Sir Walter Gilbey, who started the fund by which it was secured, has expressed the hope that it may at some future time be called "Four Royal Presidents," for he hopes that the little Prince will inherit his forefathers' interest in ageiculture and succeed to the position srhich they have all held as President of the Soctety.
The show is -very rich, too, in its sculpture, Mr. Onslow Ford's colossal equestrian statue of the Maharajah of Mysore is so huge that it was impossible tu get it into the building, and it therefore has a place in the courtyard of Burlington House in front of the entrance to the Academy, where it is seen to great advantage. A fine work, however, is Mr, Brock's tomb of Lord Leighton, with recumbent effigy of the deceased President, which is to be placed in St. Paul's Cathedral.
11th May.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.