Attempt > Volume 1 and Select writings

THE ATTEMPT.
51
stands a man, biting off the comers of bis bank book, as be waits his turn; a fisher-
woman is standing at the door, counting her money to see if it is all safe; and a little
boy is triumphantly holding up his penny to his companion, who is not so rich as
himself. On another table is the box where the money is put, and over which a
dog is keeping guard. The different faces in this picture are all very natural and life
like, especially that of the man chewing his bank-book.
“ Sketching from Nature,” by A. S. Maccallister, is a very pretty picture. The
scene is in the kitchen of a working man’s house. By the side of the fire sits a
young woman, with a child on her knee. She is feeding it out of a bowl, which is
placed on a stool before her. She is just putting the spoon to the child’s mouth, but
the child’s eye is too intently fixed on the bright colours of the dress of the artist
who is taking its likeness, to pay much attention to it. A little dog is begging for
the food which the child refuses. This picture is not so fine as those I have before
mentioned, but the subject is a pretty one, and does great credit to the painter.
The picture of “ Edinburgh from Arthur’s Seat ” is, no doubt, a fine painting, but
I cannot say that I saw much or any resemblance to the subject from which it is taken.
“ The Morning of Departure,” by W. W. Nicol, is a beautiful picture. Lying
asleep in bed is a young officer. By the side of his bed is his trunk, which has the
initials N. I. (native infantry) painted on the end of it. His uniform has the night
before been thrown down on the top of his trunk, in readiness for his departure. His
widowed mother stands by the side of his bed, as if unwilling to awaken him, knowing
what must so soon follow. He is doubtless her eldest, and perhaps her only son. This
is a very touching picture, and a very true one.
“ The Arrest of a Rebel after Culloden,” by J. B. Macdonald, is the last I shall
mention. Three officers have entered the rebel’s house, and are not long in finding him.
He is standing in the middle of the room, the officer keeping a firm hold of him.
The baby which was sleeping in the cradle has wakened up at the noise; and the old
grandmother, looking very indignant at the intrusion, has lifted it, and is trying to
quiet it. The dog knows something is amiss, and is scowling at the officers, seeming
half inclined to fly upon them, but is repelled by the stern face and upraised sword of
the foremost of them, -while the young man’s wife is clinging to him. This is a fine
painting, and a very attractive one.
There are about seven hundred pictures in this Exhibition, besides a number of
pieces of sculpture.
Phillis.