There are two classes of pictorial art—namely, the natural and the spiritual; the natural re presents what is material and is studied from somethiug that can be seen ; tbe spiritual is an idea conceived by the artist from a description of something he has not the power to study from the subject itself, and is termed Allegorical or Ideal. The first step a wise oritic will take is to discover whether Mr Watts has embodied his conception intelligently, that is, does the image he haß produced convey a truthful mef.ning of the subject he has endeavoured to represent. Let us find out how far he has succeeded in his work " The Spirit of Christianity." Fortunately in this case, there is only one source from whioh the artist can get a descrip tion of the principal figure in bis picture. I have studied the work carefully, and tried to make myself believe tbere is something in it, but that painful contracted brow and unhealthy careworn face are quite antagonistic to the sublime description that has been revealed to man. We will now see how he has represented the churches. We are told the children are in tended to. represent them. Where are the symbols to express the meaning ? A light, how ever small, is usually accepted as symbolical of the cburch. TheD, again, by what sign does be express the cause of their difference f The sub ject is altogether devoid of the emblems neces sary to enable anyone to read the picture. The bold treatment of the colour is necessary for this class of art, as the height at whioh it is

usually hung softens the appearance. The scheme of colour in the children and hands of principal figure are in the style of Rubens, but the figures are out of all proportion. The picture, without any title, would suggest a figure distressed in both body and mind, with the children striving to hide from the gruesome face above them. This class of work will corrupt, but never improve public taste.
