LITERATURE AND ART.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXV, Issue 9064, 26 May 1888, Page 4 (Supplement)

LITERATURE AND ART.

In their excavations ab Cephissia the American School have discovered the head of a colossal male statue, a basso-relievo representing a*warrior, a torso of a statue without, head, and many inscriptions. One hears nothing of the long-suspected Temple of Dionysus. Mrs. A. B. Marshall is going to bring out yet another new cookery took, which, it is boldly declared, will " owe nothing to its predecessors." A vocabulary of cookery terms in French and English, and instruction for writing menus in French—instructions certainly needed by many peoplewill be given. German papers report another Goethe find. Professor Esich Schmidt is said to have discovered in the Goethe archives of Weimar a hitherto unknown sketch of the second part of "Faust," in which the "classical Waipurgia Night" is wanting, and which deviates in some other respects from the present version of the symbolical drama. The death is announced of the Rev. H. N. Oxhenham, says the Athenreum, one (fi the most learned of the Anglican clergy who have joined the Church of Rome since the great exodus consequent on the Gorham case. He enjoyed a considerable reputation at Oxford, although he failed to gain a fellowship, lie took to parochial work, but some six years after his ordination he joined the Roman Catholic communion. He spent a year or so at the Oratory, but only took minor orders, and never found himself quite at home in the Church of his adoption, as he had expected when he was outside it. Indeed, ho used to annoy the Roman Catholic hierarchy by defending the validity of English orders. He was a great admirer of Dr. von Zollinger, and warmly supported the party opposed to the dogma of 'infallibility in the columns of the Saturday Review, to which he was a frequent contributor. His chief works were two ireatiseson the Atonement and cschatology, written with great candour and clearness, and showing a large acquaintance with the literature of the subject. Mr. George Scharf, C.8., director of the National Portrait Gallery, writing to the Times, says :—"With reference to the announcement that, the Sultan has given instructions that a copy of the well-known portrait of Lord Nelson in the Imperial Treasury shall bo sent to the National Gallery in London, I beg to say that the Sultan has bestowed this copy upon the National Portrait Gallery, and that, through the kind offices of his 'Excellency Rustera Pasha, the Turkish Ambassador, the picture has already arrived at its destination. After the trustees of this gallery have held a board meeting, it may be expected that the picture will be exhibited to the public in some central locality of the metropolis. The circumstances connected with tlto donation are in themselves highly interesting. They originated in a magnificent gift made bythe Grand Signior Sclim 111. to Lord Nelson after the battle of the Nile, August 1, 1795. The gift consisted of a superb aigrette of diamonds to be worn in the hat and a scarlet robe lined with fur. In acknowledgment of these honours the victorious Admiral sent to the Sultan his own portrait, a full length figure, wearing these honours in a conspicuous fashion ; the scarlet robe being spread out on a chair beside him. The picture was painted for Lord Nelson by Leonard Guzzardi, of Palermol, in 1790, the copy of it now presented to the portrait gallery is in a magnificent frame and represents the hero in full naval uniform, wearing the aigrette prominently on the front of'his largo"black hat. He stands on the deck of his vessel facing the spectator and extends his left, hand as if giving directions, while the empty sleeve of his right arm is pinned to his'breast. In the background may be seen a naval engagement. The scarlet robe is spread out, as before described, and a greenish-gray drapery is suspended on the left. The scale of the figure is but small, as the picture itself is not three feet high. It corresponds exactly with a large portrait, also by Guzzardi, which is in the board-room of the Admiralty at Whitehall. The copy now presented to the National Portrait Gallery by his ImjK'rial Majesty has been done with great care and is evidently u very faithful reproduction. It w<l3 executed by Signor Acquarani, painter at the Imperial Ottoman Court."