ART AND ARTISTS.

Otago Witness, Issue 1875, 28 October 1887, Page 36

ART AND ARTISTS.

A friend of Sir Edwin Landseer, who accompanied him to Kennsington Museum on the first occasion of its exhibition by gaslight, relates that Landseer stopped short before his large picure, " A Visit to Waterloo." " I must have been mad," said he, "when I painted that. And, walking up to the picture, he placed his hand over the part which attracted his criticism. An attendant policeman shouted his polite caution, " Now, then, take your hands off there ! " "My good man," said Sir Edwin, " I was merely remarking how bad that was." "Then why don't you go and do better?" said the policeman, who had no idea to whom he was speaking. " Quite right, quite right ! 1 am ashamed of it," returned Sir Edwin.

Meissonier, as has already been announced, is engaged in reproducing in water colours is famous picture- which formed part of the A. T. Stewart collection in New York. Although he has his rough sketches and photos, he is making his studies all over again. A few days ago he was 75 years old. A friend going to Poissy to congratulate him, found him in the middle of a cornfield at noon, sketching. "I purchased this cornfield yesterday from one 01 my neighbours," said Meissonier. " I petitioned the Minister of War to let me have one cuirassier as a model. This morning he sent me a detachment. I made them ride through the com and trample it down. I have the effect now that I wanted." The picture is already sold to an English nobleman.

A very striking and powerful statue of Garibaldi has been recently completed by the sculptor Eugenio Maccagnani. It is destined to be placed in the principal square or plaza of Brescia, and has already occupied the sculptor for more than two years, though the principal figure is but now just ready for casting in bronze. The statue, from the feet of the horse to the crown of the head of the rider, is about 13i't high. The base is oblong in shape and with decorations at either end. That in front is a half recumbent lion with a paw upon the flag, as if in warning against possible encroachments. The opposite end exhibits warlike emblems. The entire work, including the casting of the lion and emblems as well as the principal figure, will occupy about two years more, when it will be finally placed in the designated location.

The late Mr John Newton Mappin, of Birchlands, Sheffield, who amassed a large fortune as brewer, at Massborough, Rotherham, bequeathed his valuable collection of paintings to the town of Sheffield, with £15,000 to erect a gallery in which to exhibit them. The Mappin pictures include examples of the principal modern English painters, and the collection, which is particularly rich in examples of Phillips and Pettie, is valued at over £60,000. The central gallery is devoted to the Newton Mappin pictures, and a side gallery is filled with paintings presented by Sir Frederick Mappin, M.P., nephew of Mr Newton Mappin. Sir Frederick, on behalf of his co-trustees, recently presented the title deeds of the building and collection toj the mayor (Sir Henry Stephenson), as representing the town. Mr Mundella, M.P., afterwards presented Sir Frederick's collection. A silver key was presented to Sir Frederick, with which he unlocked the main door, and declared the Mappin Art Gallery open to the people of Sheffield, a declaration that was received with cheers. The gallery is a handsome erection in lonic, and is placed in Weston Park, adjoining the Corporation Museum. It contains six galleries, four being filled with pictures on loan from artists, private owners, and public bodies. The freize bears the inscription, "This building and the pictures in the central gallery were bequeathed to the town of Sheffield by John Newton Mappin."