high painting, and high
sculpture; and the man misunderstands the true spirit of those arts who
seeks to deprive them of a portion of their divinity, and argues that
entertainment and information constitute their highest aim." We have
quoted this passage because it expresses our notions of the power of art
more happily than we are able to express it; but we must add that the
_teaching_ as well as the _poetic_ painter has much to complain of from
society; it is impossible to mingle among the "higher classes" without
being struck by their indifference to every phase of British
art,--except portraiture. "Have you been to the Exhibition? Are there
many nice miniatures? are the portraits good? Lady D.'s lace is perfect;
Mrs. A.'s velvet is inimitable." Such observations strike the ear with
painful discord, when the mind is filled with memories of those who are
brave or independent enough to "look forward" with creative genius.
There are many noble exceptions among our aristocracy; but with far too
great a number art is a mere fashion.

[Illustration: HOGARTH'S HOUSE.]

As a people, neither our eyes nor our ears are yet opened to its
instructive and elevating faculty. We mistake the outlay of money for an
expenditure of sympathy.

Hogarth's portraits were almost too faithful to please his sitters: he
was too truthful to flatter, even on canvas; and the wonder is that he
achieved any popularity in this fantastic branch of his art. Allan
Cunningham has said of him, that he regarded neither the historian's
page, nor the poet's song. He was contented with the occurrences of the
passing day, with the folly or the sin of the hour; yet to the garb and
fashion of the moment, he adds story and sentiment for all time. It is
quite delicious to read the excuses Allan makes for the foibles of the
man whose virtues had touched his own generous heart; he confesses with
great _naivete_ that he looked coldly--"too coldly, perhaps"--on foreign
art, and perhaps too fondly on his own productions; and then adds that,
"where vanity soonest misleads the judgment he thought wisely; he
contemplated his own works, not as things excellent in themselves, but
as the rudiments of future excellence, and looked forward with the hope
that some happier Hogarth would raise, on the foundation he had laid, a
perfect and lasting superstructure."

We must humbly differ from the poet in this matter; we believe, if the
characteristic cap were removed from that s