This exhibition is open from nine o'clock until dusk. Admission 2s. Catalogue 6d.

Barker's Panorama, Leicester Square.-Paintings of this nature may be fairly entitled the Triumph of Aerial and Linear Perspective. Here are two circles, an upper and a lower, in which are constantly exhibited views of great cities, of battles, &c. The illusion is so complete, that the spectator may imagine he is present at the actual display of the objects represented. There is a Panorama, also, at No. 168, Strand, belonging to Messrs. Barker and Burford, in which either one or two views of cele brated places may constantly be seen. The admission to each subject is 18. Descriptive accounts with an outline Sketch, 6d. A new building, on a grand scale, from the designs of Decimus Burton, esq., architect, is now erecting in the Regent's Park, for the exhibition of a Panoramic View of London, and the surrounding country, from the summit of the dome of St. Paul's Cathedral, painted by Mr. T. Horner. The buildiug is erected upon the plan of the Pantheon at Rome; and from the acknowledged abilities and intrepidity of the artist, as well as the architect, we may anticipate something original and extraordinary in the works of both.

The Diorama, Regent's Park, is an Exhibition of architectural and landscape scenery, so arranged and illuminated as to display changes of light and shade, and to represent, with surprising accuracy, the appearances of nature. The building consists of a vestibule, with doors opening into the Poxes and Saloon, the floor of which turns on a pivot, in order to bring the spectators, successively, opposite to openings like the proscenium of a theatre, behind which are the picture-rooms. Two large paintings, placed in these, are lighted by windows behind, and by skylights in the roof. By the aid of transparent and opaque curtains before the windows, various effects of light, shadow, and gradations of colour are produced; and many others may be similarly executed.* The elevation

* ،، Illustrations of the Public Buildings of London, by J. Britton and A. Pugin, 1825," vol. i. p. 71.

of the building was designed by Mr. Nash, and the theatre, &c. by Messrs. Pugin and Morgan. It was finished and opened in October, 1823. The pictures hitherto exhibited have been painted by Messrs. Bouton and Daguère. Admission prices to the Boxes 3s., Pit 2s.

The Cosmorama, Regent Street, is an exhibition for the display of views of celebrated remains of antiquity, combined with modern subjects, both of cities, particular edifices, and natural scenery. Here are two galleries, in each of which are seven views, which, being seen through convex lenses, have an effect of reality. Admission to each gallery 1s. Descriptions 6d. each.

The Paecilorama, Egyptian Hall, is another exhibition of picturesque views, executed in a superior style of art, and thus rendered both amusing and interesting. Admissions and catalogues as the last.

The National Gallery, Pall Mall.-This magnificent collection (partly formed by the late Mr. Angerstein) includes some of the finest works of Vandyke, Člaude Lorraine, Parmegiano, Rembrandt, Annibal Caracci, Titian, Correggio, Rubens, and other celebrated masters, together with Hogarth's series of pictures, called Marriage-à-la-Mode. In March, 1824, the Earl of Liverpool, on the part of his Majesty's Government, purchased from the executors of Mr. Angerstein, for the sum of 57,000l., nearly the whole of this very valuable collection, to form the foundation of a National Gallery of Art; and a small, beautiful picture, by Correggio, with others by the most eminent artists, has recently been added to it. The pictures at present are open for inspection, at the residence of the late proprietor, four days in the week; but a handsome and appropriate gallery is intended to be erected for the reception of these and other pictures, &c.

PRIVATE COLLECTIONS OF PAINTINGS AND SCULPTURE.

In former editions of this work, we had occasion to notice and refer to the royal collections at Buckingham House and Carlton Palace, but as both these mansions are now consigned to demolition, and the pictures are

displaced, it will be impracticable to enumerate them or apply them to any particular gallery. The Carlton House series has been removed to the Gallery of the British Institution, where they have been much visited and much admired. They consist of choice specimens by Vandyck, Rembrandt, Rubens, Teniers, Cuyp, Bergham, Potter, Ostade, Vandervelde, Wouvermans, Gerard Douw, Mieris, Reynolds, &c.; and it cannot fail of gratifying the English artist and connoisseur, to see the paintings of Sir Joshua stand forth pre-eminent in such a gallery. In the king's collection is a series of very fine enamel pictures by Mr. Bone, and also a few specimens by the late Mr. Muss.

As the mansion in which these pictures were displayed, will be speedily destroyed, or wholly dismembered, its architectural forms and characteristics will only be perpetuated by the graver of the artist, and by the writings of the topographer. We can part from it without regret when we know that a handsome square, and terrace, will оссиру its site. An opening will be obtained into St. James's Park, the thick groves of which will terminate the southern end of the street. *

Buckingham House, at the western extremity of St. James's Park, like Carlton House, has given way to modern improvement; and instead of the red brick building, in a sort of Dutch style, we are now presented with a spacious and grand palace from the designs of Mr. Nash. This is now progressively, but rapidly advancing, and its façade, towards St. James's park, will present a rich assemblage of columns, pediments, cupolas, &c., with a very elegant triumphal arch, for the central approach.

Kensington Palace contains a very numerous, but by no means a select, collection of paintings by divers masters, among whom are Albert Durer, Lucas Van Leyden, Frank Hals, G. Palma, Carlo Cignani, Schalken, Guercino, Holbein, Mabuse, Elsheimer, Kneller, Wotton, &c. The Siege of Tournay, by the latter, in the King's drawing

* Plans, views, and an account of this palace will be found in vol. ii. of "Illustrations of the Public Buildings of London."