Studio: international art (7.1896)

Reviews of Recent Publications

gd.)—A charming little serial, well printed and
handy in shape. It contains some clever pen-and-
ink drawings by Leon V. Solon, William Shackle-
ton, Leonard Patten, J. W. T. Manuel, and other
artists.

"a leaf" by w. shackleton

(From " The Beam ")

The Art Student's Manual. By T. Hale-San-
ders. (London: Waterlow & Co.)—The title of
this book is a little too big for its contents; yet the
author has managed to pack in its small compass
a really marvellous amount of advice more or less
novel, but nearly all valuable. It has the air of

being a precis of a series of lectures. In any case
it will be even more interesting to teachers than to
taught; but both classes may gather much from it.
It is practical, not peculiarly literary in its expres-
sion, but full of good working advice, and can be
safely recommended to those seriously engaged in
painting.

My Lady Nicotine. By J. M. Barrie. Illus-
trated by M. B. Prendergast. (Boston (U.S.) :
Joseph Knight & Co.)—Mr. Barrie's delectable
tale needs no new praise, but the illustrations by
a clever young artist whose work The Studio has
followed with interest, deserves frank and full
recognition. If in the medium of black and white
Mr. Prendergast does not quite reach the amazing
excellence of his water-colours, still it is good
enough to fulfil all requirements. The title-page
with its four colours is admirably simple and very
well lettered. The process block and printing are
not quite up to the best American standard, and
this is a pity, for the rare delicacy of Mr. Prender-
gast's work cannot be appraised duly therefrom.
One hopes that at no distant day he may fill a
London gallery with his aquarelles and gain the
recognition he merits.

Etching, Dry point, Mezzotint, the whole Art of
the Painter Etcher. By Hugh Paton (London :
Raithby, Lawrence & Co. 155.)—The substance of
this most excellent practical treatise was issued as a
serial in The British Lithographer. It is especially
agreeable to renew acquaintance with it in a well-
printed, comely volume, containing ten impressions
from copper-plates showing the different varieties
of the methods comprised in its title. Mr.
Hugh Paton has the rare power of expressing,
clearly and easily, the knowledge of an expert.
How rare, only those whose business it is to
criticise text-books and practical treatises, can fully
estimate. Any hand-book which has its facts
accurately arranged is a good thing, but when in
addition to the statements being unimpeachable,
the style of their expression is also impeccable—a
wise critic can scarce restrain his approbation
within the limits of a brief notice. Mr. Frank
Short's most excellent little book, " On the
Making of Etchings," has so far been the most
valuable on one's shelves. Mr. Paton, if he does
not add to Mr. Short's knowledge (and that is
hardly possible), has covered his ground less con-
cisely. To a beginner too-concise statements are
sometimes difficult to comprehend, hence the
more discursive manner of Mr. Paton will be read
with avidity by younger etchers, and with pleasure
and profit by those who find very little novelty in

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