Silbouettes of Science.

Colonist, Issue 12, 1 December 1857, Page 1

Silbouettes of Science.

PAINTING. The delightful science of painting, together with the sister art of glazing, may be considered to rank among the noblest recreations of the cultivated mind. Painters and glaziers are a proud fraternity, and have been treated with great respect by the magnates of the earth: When Michael Angelo was sent for by Pope Sixtus to paint the hall door of the Vatican and put a square of glass in the library window, he dropped his putty knife, which his Holiness immediately picked up and returned to the great glazier in graceful recognition of his genius. The science has several distinct branches, as marine painting, house painting, animal painting, &c. The greatest marine painter was Raphael, who entered the Royal marines at an early age, and was so fond of the water' that he would use nothing but water-colours. He became very much attached to the ship, and a particular mooring rope which is attached to every ship which has been called a painter ever since. The pre-Raphaelites went to sea before Raphael, and are very much at sea to this day. Marine painting has lence, and the excellence of pitch for the purbeen brought to a great pitch of excel* pose is indisputable. It gives that fine sombre tint, —that colour called pitch dark which is usually selected for British ships. A dark colour is most suitable to a large ship, while a light colour becomes a lighter. Marine artists differ in their treatment of a ship; by some the subject has been very much canvassed, and some sparring opinions expressed about the spars; but the greatest conflict of sentiment is on the matter ofcolour, no two nations appearing to have adopted the same idea regarding ship's colours. The young student of marine painting, after spreading his canvass, (which may be purchased at auction or obtained from a sail), should lay on a coating of pitch which is a good body colour, though not exactly a flesh colour, and so well adapted for canvass that it is no uncommon thing for an artist to pitch his tent., Most paints are prepared on a palette with a palette knife, but pitch not being, a palatable pigment, can be more conveniently mixed in a pitcher, and instead of a knife, a fork called a pitch-fork is manufactured expressly for pitching into this useful preparation. House painting is a comprehensive subject, and must be ousted from this paper from want of room. Animal painting would be a more animated topic, but the animal propensities of those who have chosen this branch of the art are repulsive to contemplate. The glazing department must also be dismissed at present. At a future day we may look'through its operations. Great attention in painting must be given to correct drawing. An artist who can draw well has a great pull over > those who cannot, and will ultimately make a great haul in his profession. The pupil must commence by drawing what is called still life, which means still champagne, and may begin by drawing the cork, or a sword, by drawing which latter he may arrive at a certain point, but must persevere till he is able to draw a handsome cheque with some good figures in the foreground and a cheerful prospect of its being paid. He will then give his mind to perspective,, and lineal drapery, which is a distinct thing from linen drapery, and any difficulty in the drapery business can be got over by the help of a draper's assistant. Foreshortening is a crafty device of the painter craft. Any quadruped, say a dog or a chair, may be so placed as to exhibit one or two legs short of the four. This is called posing the subject, and has a most puzzling effect, and one which we have endeavoured to elucidate, iti the humble trust that bur slight attempt may not be slighted.—-Melbourne Punch.

ELECTRICITY.

This is the science of electing candidates for public honours. The first professors of the science were the electors of Germany, a very ancient body who had the privilege of electing their own governor, (sometimes called an emperor),, without sending fifteen thousand miles for hinii They had knights or ritters to precede them, a ritual ceremony which has not been perpetuated, as in the present day election operations are preceded by a writ instead of a ritter. The elector of Hanover obtained his little property in a romantic way. He was out hunting with the Emperor Maximilian who had stuck up a wild boar, and was getting the worst of it. The brute had Max against a gum-tree, and was punching holes in his waist belt as though he thought it a stirrupleather, when the elector, who was then a poor retainer in the Emperor's service, rushed in and killed the beast with a handsaw. Maximilian was grateful and called to his surveyor-general. * Hand over that man a section of land and give him a crown grant, he's a brick,' and they did hand over the land, and they called it • Hand over,' in allusion to the summary process of acquirement. The name has since been contracted into Hanover. All these electors were very very partial to beer; especially Bavaria, who brewed his own, and Bavarian beer is still famous in Germany. This man was considered a great luminary among his people and- called the electric light. The ceremony of drinking beer copiously is observed by electors to this day. The operations of electricity are very extensive and are conducted by a conveyance called

a telegraph, which is conveyed by wires and the wires go by post (i. c. from post to post.) Now the conveyance by which these. movements are conducted must not be confused with the conductor of a conveyance who is obliged to conduct-himself properly before he thinks of conducting anything else, or he may be open to a charge that may end in his discharge. This is an important point which we afo fearful of having insufficiently explained. The province of the elector is carefully to examine the candidate's fitness for his particular province. He must put questions to any questionable man, and if the candidate gives a candid answer, he may enter" thelists (the electoral l»ts) withafairprospect of success should he not be a listless man. Much more respecting the elector's art* might be artfully introduced in this article, but an overdose of electricity is very shocking at all times.— Melbourne Punoht

Kean and Garrick.—\Edmund Kean was a great favourite of Mrs* Garrick, the widow of the celebrated actor* Whenever" it was desirable that a new.performer at Drury Lane should make a hit* the committee used to bring the venerable old lady out to her private box, to say he reminded her of David. She said so, and this went the round of the papers accordingly. In the case of Kean she spoke honestly. He did remind her of her husband, and was nearer to him by many degrees than any actor she had ever seen, although both ageed he could not play Abel Drugger. Once in conversation he complained to her" that the papers made terrible mistakes as to his conceptions of character, readings* points, and other peculiarities. 'These people,' said he, 'don't understand their" business;. they give me credit where I make no effort to deserve it, and they pass over1 the passages on which I have bestowed the utmost care and attention. They think because my style is new and appears natural that I don't study, and talk about the sudden impulse of genius. There is no such thing as impulsive acting; all is studied beforehand.' A man may act better" or worse on a particular night from particular circumstances, but the conception is the same. I have done all these things a thousand times in country theatres, and perhaps better, before I was recognised as a great London actor, and have been, loudly applauded; but the sound never reached as far as London.' * You should write your own criticisms,* replied the old lady; David always did so!'

Romance of High Life.—» Among the presentations to her Majesty at one of the drawing rooms this season was a young lady upon her marriage, and about whose nuptials a story is current of more than usual interest in these-unromantic times. She is the daughter of a baronet, holding a distinguished position. Among the suitors of this young lady, who is as pretty as accomplished, was one of very advanced years; but it was in Tain that all the allurements consequent upon the possession of riches were set forth. The fair maiden showed herself completely indifferent to the golden prize that lay at her feet/ and, in spite of of the strong recommendation of 'papa,' it was unhesitatingly rejected. So far, therefore, everything was perfectly natural and very unromantic. But it seems that the gentleman, after his proposals had been declined (of course with the^ usual protestations of respect and esteem), again sought an interview, and assured the lady that his attachment was not selfish—that he was read}', at any sacrifice, to do anything that could contribute to her happiness; and that if her affections were fixed on any one whose wealth might not be adequate to his good fortune,'he was ready, by a settlement even to the extent of i€loo,ooo, to place her happiness in her own power. Such a proof of disinterested attachment was perfectly undeniable, and it is said the lady pondered so much over it that, like the recital of Othello's dangers, it wrought a complete revulsion of feeling. We do not pretend to know on what kind of hint" the venerable gentleman spoke again, but speak again he did, and with so much effect that the happy day was soon named, and the nuptials in due course solemnised, and the fine bride presented on her marriage to the Queen. The world gives, with its usual generosity, an almost fabulous amount to Mr. 's fortune, but it is very well known that one item in it is £150,000 railway stock, and more than, half of which is paying six per cent.— Court Journal.

Ancient Structures.—Nineveh was 15 miles long, 9 wide, and 40 miles round, with a wall 100 feet high, and thick enough for three chariots abreast. Babylon was 60 miles within the walls, which were 75 feet thick, and 300 feet high, with 100 brazen gates. The temple of Diana, at Ephesus, according to Pliny, required 220 years to complete it, and was supported by 127 pillars, 60 feet high; having been raised by as many kings. The largest of the pyramids is 481 feet high, and 653 on the sides; its base covers 11 acres; the stones are about 30 feet long, and the layers are 208; it employed 330,000 men in building. The labyrinth of Egypt contained 300 chambers, and 12 halls. Thebes, in Egypt, presents ruins 27 miles round,, and had 100 gates. Carthage was 25 miles round. Athens was 25 miles round, and contained 250,000 citizens and 400,000 slaves. The temple of Delphos was so' rich in donations, that it was plundered of £ 100,000, and Nero carried away from it 200 statues. The walls of Rome were 13 miles round.

Worth Heeding.—lf men gave three times as much attention as they now do, to ventilation, ablution, and exercise in the open air, and only one-third as much to eating, furnishing, and late hours, the numbor of doctors, dentists, and apothecaries, and the amount of dyspepsia, gout, fever,-: and consumption, would be changed in a corresponding ratio. Mankind would rapidly present the aspect, not only of a far healthier and thriftier, but a far more beautiful and more virtuous race.