DOI Heft:
No. 89 (Aug. 1900)
DOI Artikel:Reviews
DOI Seite / Zitierlink: https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.19785#0232
Reviews
the manner in which the entire work has been
arranged and printed, are strong evidence of the
enormous progress which has been made in recent
years by Germany in the art of illustration and
book-making. Both the black-and-white and colour
work with which the pages are so adequately
decorated, are of a very high order, some of the
black-and-white work being especially strong and
admirable. We cordially recommend this inter-
esting and attractive book to the attention of
our readers.
Yankee Girls Abroad. By J. M. Flagg. (Lon-
don : Sands & Co.). Price ids.—A dozen smartly
drawn illustrations of the "poster" class reproduced
in colour. Although the type of face and figure of
several of the studies recall to us the Dana Gibson
model, and although there is generally a lack of
distinction and personality in the method of treat-
ment, the drawings are not devoid of merit. There
is a welcome diversity in the schemes of colour
employed in the series.
Artistes et Amateurs. Par Georges Lafenestre,
Membre de lTnstitut. (Paris: Societe d'Edition
Artistique, Rue Louis le Grand.) Price 6 fr.
—It is a long time since we have read such a
thoughtful book on art as this admirable collection
of twelve essays and lectures by M. Georges
Lafenestre. The choice of subject is varied and
felicitous, and the author shows throughout the
volume a wide and genial knowledge and discern-
ment that it would be difficult to rate at too high
a level. The essay on Titian and the Princes of
his Time, the lecture on Van Dyck in France, and
the criticism of Rembrandt van Pyn, will probably
appeal first to most lovers of old art; but
M. Lafenestre is at his best, we think, when he
becomes patriotic, as in the historic account he
gives of L'Esprit Francais dans les Beaux-Arts. It
is always pleasant to meet with a critic who re-
cognises that the cosmopolitanism of the appeal made
by true genius is not weakened but strengthened
by the preservation of racial characteristics. This
truth is brought home to us by all the most national
forms of art, from the ancient Egyptian to the
modern Japanese. M. Lafenestre draws attention
to those gifts of the spirit which ought to be
permanent in the art of Frenchmen ; and in another
essay, dealing with The Foreign Painters at the
Exhibition of 1889, he is equally sympathetic
and just towards the ascendant qualities of other
nations.
Homeric Similes. Designs by Edgar Barclay.
(London : George Bell & Sons.) £2 net.—The
similes contained in the Iliad are oftentimes of
200
considerable poetic beauty, and are always
sufficiently notable to form excellent subject for
the use of the painter and illustrator. Thus, ac-
cording to the author, in Book II., line no, the
Greeks hasten from their ships and huts to the
General Assembly, when it is proposed they should
return to their native land, and are likened to
bees swarming from a hollow rock and migrating
to a flowery vale. Again, in line 175, the speech
of Agamemnon being ended, there is a sudden
movement in the assembled hosts, which are of
divided mind whether to remain and reap the fruit
of their toil or to set sail. They are described
as waves of the sea driven by the wind, and as
waving corn bent by the wind. Twenty-six of
such similes are illustrated by photogravure repro-
ductions of Mr. Barclay's drawings, all of which
are attractive, and some of especial beauty. The
Introduction, Catalogue of Similes, Greek text and
translations are in every respect adequate, and we
cordially endorse the hope of the author, expressed
in his Preface, that " the Book may be considered
appropriate as a prize for boys in the upper forms
of classical schools."
Hampstead Etchings. By W. Monk, R.E.
(London : 86 Fellowes Road, N.W.) Price ^5 5*.
—The seven etchings contained in a portfolio and
entitled as above consist of views of The Firs—
Spaniards, Jack Straw's Castle, Cottages at North
End, London—from Hampstead, The Leg-of-Mutton
Pond, The Spaniards' Inn, and The Ride—Hamp-
stead Heath. This charming collection of plates,
limited to one hundred complete copies, deserves
to become popular among the many lovers of old
Hampstead, not only on account of the subjects
selected, but also for the reason of the technical
and artistic value of the impressions. It is some-
what to be regreted that the artist should have
selected the especially excellent plate of The Firs—
Spaniards, for use as a sort of title-page, and by
the addition of lettering detracted from its suit-
ability for framing purposes. With this exception
however, we have no comments to make that are
not favourable. It would make a most welcome
gift-book.
We have received from Casper's Kunst-Verlag,
Berlin, a portfolio of sketches by G. Klimt
which, whether regarded as examples ot artistic
work or of clever reproduction, are alike remark-
able and satisfactory. The beautiful female heads
so gracefully delineated by the artist would form,
when suitably framed, most attractive prints for
wall decoration.
the manner in which the entire work has been
arranged and printed, are strong evidence of the
enormous progress which has been made in recent
years by Germany in the art of illustration and
book-making. Both the black-and-white and colour
work with which the pages are so adequately
decorated, are of a very high order, some of the
black-and-white work being especially strong and
admirable. We cordially recommend this inter-
esting and attractive book to the attention of
our readers.
Yankee Girls Abroad. By J. M. Flagg. (Lon-
don : Sands & Co.). Price ids.—A dozen smartly
drawn illustrations of the "poster" class reproduced
in colour. Although the type of face and figure of
several of the studies recall to us the Dana Gibson
model, and although there is generally a lack of
distinction and personality in the method of treat-
ment, the drawings are not devoid of merit. There
is a welcome diversity in the schemes of colour
employed in the series.
Artistes et Amateurs. Par Georges Lafenestre,
Membre de lTnstitut. (Paris: Societe d'Edition
Artistique, Rue Louis le Grand.) Price 6 fr.
—It is a long time since we have read such a
thoughtful book on art as this admirable collection
of twelve essays and lectures by M. Georges
Lafenestre. The choice of subject is varied and
felicitous, and the author shows throughout the
volume a wide and genial knowledge and discern-
ment that it would be difficult to rate at too high
a level. The essay on Titian and the Princes of
his Time, the lecture on Van Dyck in France, and
the criticism of Rembrandt van Pyn, will probably
appeal first to most lovers of old art; but
M. Lafenestre is at his best, we think, when he
becomes patriotic, as in the historic account he
gives of L'Esprit Francais dans les Beaux-Arts. It
is always pleasant to meet with a critic who re-
cognises that the cosmopolitanism of the appeal made
by true genius is not weakened but strengthened
by the preservation of racial characteristics. This
truth is brought home to us by all the most national
forms of art, from the ancient Egyptian to the
modern Japanese. M. Lafenestre draws attention
to those gifts of the spirit which ought to be
permanent in the art of Frenchmen ; and in another
essay, dealing with The Foreign Painters at the
Exhibition of 1889, he is equally sympathetic
and just towards the ascendant qualities of other
nations.
Homeric Similes. Designs by Edgar Barclay.
(London : George Bell & Sons.) £2 net.—The
similes contained in the Iliad are oftentimes of
200
considerable poetic beauty, and are always
sufficiently notable to form excellent subject for
the use of the painter and illustrator. Thus, ac-
cording to the author, in Book II., line no, the
Greeks hasten from their ships and huts to the
General Assembly, when it is proposed they should
return to their native land, and are likened to
bees swarming from a hollow rock and migrating
to a flowery vale. Again, in line 175, the speech
of Agamemnon being ended, there is a sudden
movement in the assembled hosts, which are of
divided mind whether to remain and reap the fruit
of their toil or to set sail. They are described
as waves of the sea driven by the wind, and as
waving corn bent by the wind. Twenty-six of
such similes are illustrated by photogravure repro-
ductions of Mr. Barclay's drawings, all of which
are attractive, and some of especial beauty. The
Introduction, Catalogue of Similes, Greek text and
translations are in every respect adequate, and we
cordially endorse the hope of the author, expressed
in his Preface, that " the Book may be considered
appropriate as a prize for boys in the upper forms
of classical schools."
Hampstead Etchings. By W. Monk, R.E.
(London : 86 Fellowes Road, N.W.) Price ^5 5*.
—The seven etchings contained in a portfolio and
entitled as above consist of views of The Firs—
Spaniards, Jack Straw's Castle, Cottages at North
End, London—from Hampstead, The Leg-of-Mutton
Pond, The Spaniards' Inn, and The Ride—Hamp-
stead Heath. This charming collection of plates,
limited to one hundred complete copies, deserves
to become popular among the many lovers of old
Hampstead, not only on account of the subjects
selected, but also for the reason of the technical
and artistic value of the impressions. It is some-
what to be regreted that the artist should have
selected the especially excellent plate of The Firs—
Spaniards, for use as a sort of title-page, and by
the addition of lettering detracted from its suit-
ability for framing purposes. With this exception
however, we have no comments to make that are
not favourable. It would make a most welcome
gift-book.
We have received from Casper's Kunst-Verlag,
Berlin, a portfolio of sketches by G. Klimt
which, whether regarded as examples ot artistic
work or of clever reproduction, are alike remark-
able and satisfactory. The beautiful female heads
so gracefully delineated by the artist would form,
when suitably framed, most attractive prints for
wall decoration.