Studio: international art (7.1896)

Reviews of Recent Publications

EVIEWS OF RECENT PUB-
LICATIONS.

A Midsummer Night's Dream. Illus-
trated by R. Anning Bell. (London :

Dent & Co.)—Were it only for the sake of the de-
lightful decoration upon the cloth binding of this
book, we could cordially recommend it to our
readers. But its pages are full of graceful and
fairy-like designs by one of the daintiest of modern
illustrators. Since the time when Mr. Anning
Bell's work was first noticed in these columns he
has steadily progressed, not only in public favour,
but also in the artistic quality of his work.

" ENDYMION " BRONZE STATUETTE

BY EMMA CADWALLADER GUILD

(See Berlin Studio-Talk.)

Marsh Leaves. By P. H. Emerson, with six-
teen photo-etchings from plates taken by the author.
(London : David Nutt.)—The distinguished writer
of "Naturalistic Photography " has long since been
acclaimed by those cultured in pictorial art as one
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whose productions, albeit they come from a camera,
are instinct with a larger proportion of graphic
quality and suggestion than is usually associated
with a photograph. The photo-etchings in Marsh
Leaves will go far to widen the existing gulf which
yawns between the crowds who depict too much
of everything with harrowing insistence, and the
few, such as Dr. Emerson, who impose upon their
records an impressive reticence. The author has
kindly allowed us to reproduce in " half-tone " two
of the illustrations to this book.

Legends from River and Mountain. By Carmen
Sylva (H.M. the Queen of Roumania) and Alma
Strettell. With illustrations by T. H. Roihn-
son. (London : George Allen.)—The illustrations
to this delightful work by Mr. Robinson are
excellent in every respect, and are thoroughly in
keeping with the spirit of the text.

Scenes from the Chiushingura and the Story of the
Forty-Seven Ronins. By James Murdoch, M.A.
Illustrated from photographs by K. Ogawa, of
Tokyo. (London agents : Murdoch & Co.)—This
work has been printed in Japan, and once more
illustrates the enormous advance which is being
made there in the assimilation of Western methods
of work. The text is well printed, and the large
collotype illustrations are quite equal in quality to
the best work produced in this country. The
subject is an episode in the history of the
Tokugawa Shogunate, which possesses a popu-
larity with the Japanese equalled only in England
by " Robin Hood." The author tells us that it
forms the theme in Japan for no fewer than 104
literary works. " Many of these publications are
avowedly romances or dramas founded upon the
incident; others, while purporting to be sober
historical narratives, are tinged with a strong alloy
of fiction." Many European visitors to Japan have
paid at least one visit to the great theatre in Tokyo,
and have probably there seen Danjiro, the famous
exponent of the histrionic art in the Far East, in
his character of the hero of "The Forty-Seven
Ronins." As a favourite subject for the stage it
has no equal, and the illustrations which accom-
pany Mr. Murdoch's text are largely taken from
scenes in the drama, being photographs of actors
in some of the most effective situations.

Studies in Both Arts. By John Ruskin, D.C.L.,
LL.D. £1 is. (London : George Allen.)—Mr.
Ruskin's drawings are almost equally distinctive
and delightful as his art criticisms and essays.
His sketches ofttimes possess a subtle refinement
which eludes description. In the drawings, hitherto
unpublished, which are brought together in this