DOI Heft:
No. 12 (March, 1894)
DOI Artikel:New publications
DOI Seite / Zitierlink:https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.17189#0234
New Publications
wood-blocks (in Once a Week) are as nearly repro- wrought-iron " lacked the peculiar radiant or fanned
ductions in facsimile as the wood-engraver and expansion and other conditions of group and
printer were able to make them ; and goes on to growth in the tree "; now, the meaningless arrange-
traverse Mr. Pennell's criticism that "they are ment of drooping nuts stuck on for mere ornament
neither the drawings nor their facsimile reproduc- and the " spotty " treatment of the whole would
tions, but a translation according to the wood- be condemned by any student of wrought metal,
engraver." Yet on a following page he says : " It We should remember, however, that it is because
is a terrible thing to realise that many of the the author of Modern Painters gave us his best
exquisite drawings (in the Tennyson)
were drawn straight on to the wood. . . .
For, however skilled the hand of the
engraver, their counterparts were bound
to prove more or less faulty." More
than this, he quotes Mr. Ruskin's criti-
cism, that "they are terribly spoiled in
the cutting, and generally the best part,
the expression of the features, entirely
lost." Indeed, Mr. Layard goes so far
as to regret that Messrs. Macmillan did
not see their way to have some of them
re-engraved (from what originals ?) for the
new edition. After granting so much
indirectly on the side of process, one
need not take up the cudgels in its
favour. The subject is in the air at
present, yet it would be unfair to a book
both interesting and amusing to consider
it solely in this aspect. The really beau-
tiful drawing by Mr. Holman Hunt for
The Lady of Shallot, two of Mrs. D. G.
Rossetti;s water-colours — reproduced
here for the first time—with many other
illustrations, would alone make it worth
possessing. Mr. Layard's discursive talk
recalls all sorts of interesting anecdotes
and facts. The author is most catholic
in his choice of authorities, and hardly
attempts to give a summing-up of the
mass of evidence he has collected. The
book deserves a place on one's shelves
among the many contributions to that full
and complete history of the P.R.B., which
must be written one day. For its taste-
ful binding, excellent printing, and gene-
rally adequate illustrations the volume is
noteworthy.
The Oxford Museum. By Henry A.
Acland, D.D., and John Ruskin, M.A.
(London : George Allen.)—This book,
produced with the dainty perfection that
marks the majority of Mr. Allen's pub-
lications, has a fourfold interest : that
which attaches to the subject itself, the a book-plate, by r. anning bell
three prefaces by Dr. Acland, the letters
by Mr. Ruskin, and the four illustrations. These advice on these and kindred matters, that many to-
latter are exquisitely reproduced, especially the day who feel a kindly contempt for some things he
photograph of the joint authors taken by Miss admired, have been able to educate themselves
Acland in August 1893. Another, an iron spandril in what they believe to be a higher standard for
from the roof of the Museum, with Mr. Ruskin's criticism of decorative art than he himself set up.
critical comments thereon, is worth especial study, -
inasmuch as his modified condemnation is based The specimens of Ex Libris in this number call
on quite opposite grounds from those which it for no special comment, beyond the fact that Mr.
would very likely be attacked were it shown at an R. A. Bell's plate on this page is designed for use
exhibition of the Arts and Crafts to-day. Then, in sheets and volumes of music. The one on p. 224,
the objection was that the chestnuts and leaves in by Mx. H. Napper, has no personal significance.
222
wood-blocks (in Once a Week) are as nearly repro- wrought-iron " lacked the peculiar radiant or fanned
ductions in facsimile as the wood-engraver and expansion and other conditions of group and
printer were able to make them ; and goes on to growth in the tree "; now, the meaningless arrange-
traverse Mr. Pennell's criticism that "they are ment of drooping nuts stuck on for mere ornament
neither the drawings nor their facsimile reproduc- and the " spotty " treatment of the whole would
tions, but a translation according to the wood- be condemned by any student of wrought metal,
engraver." Yet on a following page he says : " It We should remember, however, that it is because
is a terrible thing to realise that many of the the author of Modern Painters gave us his best
exquisite drawings (in the Tennyson)
were drawn straight on to the wood. . . .
For, however skilled the hand of the
engraver, their counterparts were bound
to prove more or less faulty." More
than this, he quotes Mr. Ruskin's criti-
cism, that "they are terribly spoiled in
the cutting, and generally the best part,
the expression of the features, entirely
lost." Indeed, Mr. Layard goes so far
as to regret that Messrs. Macmillan did
not see their way to have some of them
re-engraved (from what originals ?) for the
new edition. After granting so much
indirectly on the side of process, one
need not take up the cudgels in its
favour. The subject is in the air at
present, yet it would be unfair to a book
both interesting and amusing to consider
it solely in this aspect. The really beau-
tiful drawing by Mr. Holman Hunt for
The Lady of Shallot, two of Mrs. D. G.
Rossetti;s water-colours — reproduced
here for the first time—with many other
illustrations, would alone make it worth
possessing. Mr. Layard's discursive talk
recalls all sorts of interesting anecdotes
and facts. The author is most catholic
in his choice of authorities, and hardly
attempts to give a summing-up of the
mass of evidence he has collected. The
book deserves a place on one's shelves
among the many contributions to that full
and complete history of the P.R.B., which
must be written one day. For its taste-
ful binding, excellent printing, and gene-
rally adequate illustrations the volume is
noteworthy.
The Oxford Museum. By Henry A.
Acland, D.D., and John Ruskin, M.A.
(London : George Allen.)—This book,
produced with the dainty perfection that
marks the majority of Mr. Allen's pub-
lications, has a fourfold interest : that
which attaches to the subject itself, the a book-plate, by r. anning bell
three prefaces by Dr. Acland, the letters
by Mr. Ruskin, and the four illustrations. These advice on these and kindred matters, that many to-
latter are exquisitely reproduced, especially the day who feel a kindly contempt for some things he
photograph of the joint authors taken by Miss admired, have been able to educate themselves
Acland in August 1893. Another, an iron spandril in what they believe to be a higher standard for
from the roof of the Museum, with Mr. Ruskin's criticism of decorative art than he himself set up.
critical comments thereon, is worth especial study, -
inasmuch as his modified condemnation is based The specimens of Ex Libris in this number call
on quite opposite grounds from those which it for no special comment, beyond the fact that Mr.
would very likely be attacked were it shown at an R. A. Bell's plate on this page is designed for use
exhibition of the Arts and Crafts to-day. Then, in sheets and volumes of music. The one on p. 224,
the objection was that the chestnuts and leaves in by Mx. H. Napper, has no personal significance.
222