Punch, or the London Charivari, Volume 1, CompleteVarious
General
Punch, or the London Charivari, Volume 1, Complete
Various
English wit and humor -- Periodicals
Just placed over the last-mentioned picture, and, doubtlessly so
arranged that the gentle R.A. should find that, although his bright
specimen of mild murder may be adjudged the worst in the collection,
still there are others worthy of being classed in the same order of
oddities. Behold No. 19, entitled, LandscapeEveningJ.F. Gilbert, and
selected by Mr. John Bullock from the Royal Academy. Whats in a name?
In the charitable hope that there is a chance of this purchaser being
toned down in the course of time, after the same manner that pictures
are, and, by that process, display more sobriety, we most humbly offer
to Mr. B. our modest judgment upon his selection (not upon his choice,
but upon the thing chosen). That it is a landscape we gloomily admit;
but that it represents Evening we steadily deny. The exact period of
the day, after much puzzling and deliberation, we cannot arrive at; one
thing yet we are assured ofthat it has been painted in company with a
clock that was either too fast or too slow. The composition, which has
very much the appearance of the by-gone century, is a prime selection
from the finest parts of those very serene views to be found adorning
the lowest interiors of wash-hand basins, with a dash from the works of
Smith of Chichester, whose mental elevation in his profession was only
surpassed by the high finish of his apple-trees, and the elaborate
nothingness of his general choice of subject. In the foreground of the
picture, the artist has, however, most aptly introduced the two
vagabonds invariably to be seen idling in the foregrounds of landscapes
of this classtwo rascally scouts who have put in appearance from time
immemorial; they are here just as in the works alluded to, the one
sitting, the other of course standing, and courteously bending to
receive the remarks of his friend. By the side of the stream, which
flows through (or rather takes up) the middle of the picture, and
immediately opposite to the two everlastings, is a little plain-looking
agriculturist, who appears to be watching them. He is in the careless
and ever-admitted picturesque position of leaning over a garden fence;
but whether the invariables are aware of the little gentleman, and are
consequently conversing in an undertone, we leave every beholder to
speculate and settle for himself. Behind the worthy small farmer, and
coming from the door of his residence, most cleverly introduced, is his
wife (we know it to represent the wife, from the clear fact of the
ladys appearance being typical of the gentlemans), who is in the act
of observing that the children are waiting his presence at table, and
adding, no doubt, that he had better come in and assist her in the
cabbage-and-bacon duties of the repast, than lose his time and annoy the
family.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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