It is to be regretted that Mrs. Peachey should be thus compelled to adopt a measure which has deprived the Exhibition of one of its rarest specimens of art, specimens which we are certain would severely test, if not outvie,—all other competitors in that department. We are glad to know, however, that the artiste's credit will not suffer from this harsh exclusion. The labour, skill, and expense she has bestowed are already duly appreciated by a discerning public, thousands of the elite of the aristocracy and gentry having already visited Mrs. Peachey at her residence in Rathbone-place, all of whom have expressed the most unequivocal satisfaction and delight at the beauty of the specimens, which, they allege, are far superior to any in the Exhibition. We ourselves strongly recommend our fair readers to inspect these inimitable works, feeling certain that they will continue to be pronounced the finest works of the kind ever executed.—Observer.
The complaints against the partiality and want of discrimination on the part of the executive committee of the Great Exhibition in the allotment of space to the would-be exhibitors are of daily and hourly recurrence. Among the grievances which are more especially injurious to the thorough development of British industry in the more delicate and refined art in feminine accomplishments, we may mention the case of Mrs. Peachey, of Rathbone-place, the "warranted" wax florist to Her Most Gracious Majesty. This lady, one of the earliest claimants for pedestal space, on the first announcement of the intended Congregation of the Industry of All Nations, we think, has been most harshly dealt by. Her first application was duly answered, and an allotment made her of space on the basement of the building near one of the fountains, and amongst the other gems of art. Subsequently, privately, she ascertained that some alteration was made with reference to her contributions; and, on application, it was intimated to her that, in consequence of "want of room," the executive had determined on transferring her cases to class 29, situated in one of the galleries. Mrs. Peachey, on inspecting the location, objected, on the just plea that wax flowers were liable to atmospheric influence from the great heat accruing from the glass roof and plate glass surrounding her flowers; and also their material and serious injury from the impracticability of moving her compositions, composed entirety of wax, up staircases without injuring her designs. The whole has resulted in the total exclusion of one of the most beautiful contributions, designed and arranged by one of our most honoured and worthy British Artists. Since Mrs. Peachey's exclusion has been known, her studio has been visited by the most aristocratic of the nobility and gentry, who have expressed the utmost indignation at her exclusion from the great competition in the World's Fair. The contributions, which occupy a small space, consist of the most rare exotic and indigenous flowers and fruits, which so closely imitate nature as nearly to deceive the spectator, and give him a desire to take and taste of the luscious banquet. Altogether the cases, which occupied her twelve months in completing, are worthy of inspection, a gratification which Mrs. Peachey affords the public by throwing open her rooms for public inspection. We recommend the admirers of imitative art to inspect these beautiful and artistic gems.—Expositor.
A visit to Mrs. Peachey's Studio, in Rathbone-place, is like stepping into some garden of Fairy Land, where flowers of all seasons, and fruits of every clime present themselves at once to the eye in perennial bloom. The rose is there in all its varieties, the lily, the drooping fuchsia, the accasia, the gorgeous tulip, the dahlia, the Victoria Regia in all its stages of development, bud, blossom, flower. Grapes, too, that would have moved the jolly god to press them within his ruddy lips, peaches, nectarines, currants, strawberries, and crowning pine apples, in one rare trophy, worthy the study of a Lance. Our feelings at the moment recalled vividly an amusing anecdote of Swift. The facetious Dean with several friends was invited to walk the rounds and admire the fruit in the garden of an old acquaintance, who pointed out all the beauties of his orchard, without, however, asking the company to partake of any of the tempting display. This was too much for Swift, who having a happy art of inventing rhymes to suit his purposes, applied it in the following manner on the occasion; "I remember," said he, stopping under a very heavy laden bough, "that my dear old grandmother had a saying which ran thus—
"Always pluck a peach
When within your reach."
Suiting the action to the word, he quickly put forth his hand and took and ate—an example which was not lost on those who accompanied him. Now we candidly confess that we were in an unguarded moment tempted to essay a similar onslaught on Mrs. Peachey's fruits, but, fortunately for all future visitors, were withheld by the magnificent glass shades which protect these triumphs of art. And are these the works that have been—that are refused a fitting place in that great field of universal rivalry, the Crystal Palace! What! can it be possible? Here are works of our own nation not there—excluded! Surely, for the credit of the artiste, and for its own honorable name, the Executive Committee should enquire into the matter, and if there be any unworthy motive for this, to us, incomprehensible exclusion of native art, let such be at once and for ever dissipated by the breath of public opinion. There is still ample space for them in the great building; and we hope yet to see them there in their proper place. Mrs. Peachey has spared neither labor nor expense to render her works worthy of her reputation, and the continuance of that exalted patronage which she has long enjoyed in Her Gracious Majesty the Queen, and the highest among the aristocracy, and of the honor of her country. We were glad to perceive, on our visit, that although excluded from their place among the nations, these exquisite works are eagerly sought after and admired by crowds of the elite of fashion and taste.—Globe.
This highly talented lady (artiste to Her Majesty) has now on private view, at her residence, 35, Rathbone-place, Oxford-street, two splendid works of art, which were intended to have been placed in the Crystal Palace, but the space allotted to her in one of the galleries, being not at all adapted to such delicate productions, Mrs. Peachey was compelled to refrain from carrying out her intention. These beautiful productions, the sole work of Mrs. Peachey, (who is self-taught,) comprise a monster bouquet of flowers, and a large vase of fruit. The former comprehends specimens of almost every flower known in this country, from the simple violet to the full-blown magnolia; whilst in the latter we have specimens of the principal English fruits, including the luscious pine apples and the unpretending currant. Both groups are most tastefully arranged, and an enormous expense has been incurred in the getting up of the stands and glass shades. We advise our readers not to omit seeing Mrs. Peachey's novel and truly beautiful works, and we predict they will be abundantly gratified by their visit to her Exhibition.—Reading Mercury.