DOI Heft:
No. 51 (June 1897)
DOI Artikel:Reviews of recent publications
DOI Seite / Zitierlink: https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.18389#0083
Reviews of Recent Publications
and a golden wedding page by Carl Gehrts. The
address to Johannes Brahms, and another compo-
sition by Prof. F. Widnmann, a title-page by Prof.
G. Sturm, a diploma by Prof. Max Lauger, and
another by F. Zenisek, and an address, effective in
its simple arrangement, by G. Klimt, are also
among the best. The seventy examples reveal
much masterly drawing and fine ideas of composi-
tion, ruined by over-elaboration and a constant
attempt to be "pictorial " and " decorative " in the
same panel, wherefore the result is nearer the art of
the "scrap" folding-screen than of the ideal diploma.
Compared with the average illuminated address and
certificate of honour we employ in England, these
are infinitely superior. But certain pages of a testi-
monial to Mr. Gladstone, a school-board certificate
by Mr. Anning Bell, and some very few other
examples of not dissimilar purposes, prove that if
the commissions for such things were given to the
right men we might easily surpass the best of these,
if not in pure drawing, yet in effective composition.
A page of writing with ornamental border should
not resemble a dream-picture or a leaf from a
child's scrap-book. The work is produced in a
manner beyond reproach, and the collection, which
has been so well carried out by Herr George Buss,
a Berlin architect, may call attention to the possi-
bilities of raising the art of the illuminated ad-
dress. " Too often a testimonial to one's merits
takes the form of an insult to one's taste," is a
saying borne out by only too many caskets and pre-
sentation documents.
Tales of Langnedoc. By Samuel Jacques
Brun. (San Francisco : William Doxey.) — The
illustrations to this volume, by Ernest C. Peixotto,
are unequal. They are at their best when they
follow the manner of Diirer (or perhaps it would
be more accurate to say of Howard Pyle), as in the
cover design and that on page 99. The others,
full of invention and detail, appear to have
suffered from over-reduction, which imparts a feel-
ing of weakness to his line that closer scrutiny
shows is not present. Mr. Peixotto proves his
right to be enrolled on the list of pen-draughtsmen
whose work is eagerly criticised by two continents,
and we shall expect much from him, especially if he
continues to express himself with the simplicity of
statement that distinguishes the best here. The
book is quite delightful in its legends of old
Provence.
Het Liedeken van Her Halewijn. Illustrations
by Charles Dodelet, engraved in wood by Ed.
Pellens. (Antwerp: J. E. Buschmann.)—This
edition de luxe of the old Flemish song of Messire
Halewijn is worthy of the attention of collectors of
rare and curious books. Printed in Gothic charac-
ters on Dutch paper, and bound in tinted parch-
ment with a special imprint, this new edition has a
distinct artistic value, which is largely increased by
the drawings of M. Charles Dodelet, who has
shown infinite art in bringing his fancy into line
with the text. His drawings are most happy in
their archaic spirit, their intentional simplicity, and
sincere and primitive expressiveness. With orna-
mental letters at the head of each page, everything
in the book contributes to make it one of remark-
able individuality. Two poems by M. Pol de
Mont, with a translation into French of the original
song, complete the work.
XL musical book plates with a list of more
than CCC mottoes to be found in this class of
book-plates. (Amsterdam: Frederick Midler and
Co.) Monographs on bookplates multiply rapidly.
The tendency of the day to specialisation is felt
in this latest, which is also the first Dutch contribu-
tion to the cult of the ex libris—a work limited to
the bookplates of musicians only. The examples
illustrated are, as might be expected, of unequal
merit considered as works of art, and of widely
varied date. Among the modern designs are
examples by Warrington Hogg, R. Aiming Bell,
Alder Wright, and Gleeson White. It is an ad
mirably produced work which all collectors will be
glad to possess, especially as the illustrations are each
allotted a full page with no printing on the back.
The Earlier English Water-Colour Painters.
By Cosmo Monkhouse. (London : Seeley& Co.,
Ltd. Price 6s.)—This is a second edition of a
book which has already done good service. It
contains a series of agreeably written essays upon
the masters of water-colour who by their practice
did so much before the middle of the present
century to found and develop the great school of
artists which in the present day is active in this
branch of art. To these older masters, to Turner,
David Cox, William Hunt, and their many con-
temporaries, we owe more than can be well ex-
pressed ; and Mr. Cosmo Monkhouse's book is
acceptable because it is to be taken as a sincere
acknowledgment of this debt. He treats his sub-
ject with discretion, neither exaggerating nor de-
preciating, but dealing in a spirit of fair criticism
with the questions that are presented to him.
What he writes is pleasant reading, interesting
both in matter and manner; and it is set down
concisely and clearly. As a book of reference this
volume is certainly useful, and it is also worthy of
praise as a piece of literary production.
67
and a golden wedding page by Carl Gehrts. The
address to Johannes Brahms, and another compo-
sition by Prof. F. Widnmann, a title-page by Prof.
G. Sturm, a diploma by Prof. Max Lauger, and
another by F. Zenisek, and an address, effective in
its simple arrangement, by G. Klimt, are also
among the best. The seventy examples reveal
much masterly drawing and fine ideas of composi-
tion, ruined by over-elaboration and a constant
attempt to be "pictorial " and " decorative " in the
same panel, wherefore the result is nearer the art of
the "scrap" folding-screen than of the ideal diploma.
Compared with the average illuminated address and
certificate of honour we employ in England, these
are infinitely superior. But certain pages of a testi-
monial to Mr. Gladstone, a school-board certificate
by Mr. Anning Bell, and some very few other
examples of not dissimilar purposes, prove that if
the commissions for such things were given to the
right men we might easily surpass the best of these,
if not in pure drawing, yet in effective composition.
A page of writing with ornamental border should
not resemble a dream-picture or a leaf from a
child's scrap-book. The work is produced in a
manner beyond reproach, and the collection, which
has been so well carried out by Herr George Buss,
a Berlin architect, may call attention to the possi-
bilities of raising the art of the illuminated ad-
dress. " Too often a testimonial to one's merits
takes the form of an insult to one's taste," is a
saying borne out by only too many caskets and pre-
sentation documents.
Tales of Langnedoc. By Samuel Jacques
Brun. (San Francisco : William Doxey.) — The
illustrations to this volume, by Ernest C. Peixotto,
are unequal. They are at their best when they
follow the manner of Diirer (or perhaps it would
be more accurate to say of Howard Pyle), as in the
cover design and that on page 99. The others,
full of invention and detail, appear to have
suffered from over-reduction, which imparts a feel-
ing of weakness to his line that closer scrutiny
shows is not present. Mr. Peixotto proves his
right to be enrolled on the list of pen-draughtsmen
whose work is eagerly criticised by two continents,
and we shall expect much from him, especially if he
continues to express himself with the simplicity of
statement that distinguishes the best here. The
book is quite delightful in its legends of old
Provence.
Het Liedeken van Her Halewijn. Illustrations
by Charles Dodelet, engraved in wood by Ed.
Pellens. (Antwerp: J. E. Buschmann.)—This
edition de luxe of the old Flemish song of Messire
Halewijn is worthy of the attention of collectors of
rare and curious books. Printed in Gothic charac-
ters on Dutch paper, and bound in tinted parch-
ment with a special imprint, this new edition has a
distinct artistic value, which is largely increased by
the drawings of M. Charles Dodelet, who has
shown infinite art in bringing his fancy into line
with the text. His drawings are most happy in
their archaic spirit, their intentional simplicity, and
sincere and primitive expressiveness. With orna-
mental letters at the head of each page, everything
in the book contributes to make it one of remark-
able individuality. Two poems by M. Pol de
Mont, with a translation into French of the original
song, complete the work.
XL musical book plates with a list of more
than CCC mottoes to be found in this class of
book-plates. (Amsterdam: Frederick Midler and
Co.) Monographs on bookplates multiply rapidly.
The tendency of the day to specialisation is felt
in this latest, which is also the first Dutch contribu-
tion to the cult of the ex libris—a work limited to
the bookplates of musicians only. The examples
illustrated are, as might be expected, of unequal
merit considered as works of art, and of widely
varied date. Among the modern designs are
examples by Warrington Hogg, R. Aiming Bell,
Alder Wright, and Gleeson White. It is an ad
mirably produced work which all collectors will be
glad to possess, especially as the illustrations are each
allotted a full page with no printing on the back.
The Earlier English Water-Colour Painters.
By Cosmo Monkhouse. (London : Seeley& Co.,
Ltd. Price 6s.)—This is a second edition of a
book which has already done good service. It
contains a series of agreeably written essays upon
the masters of water-colour who by their practice
did so much before the middle of the present
century to found and develop the great school of
artists which in the present day is active in this
branch of art. To these older masters, to Turner,
David Cox, William Hunt, and their many con-
temporaries, we owe more than can be well ex-
pressed ; and Mr. Cosmo Monkhouse's book is
acceptable because it is to be taken as a sincere
acknowledgment of this debt. He treats his sub-
ject with discretion, neither exaggerating nor de-
preciating, but dealing in a spirit of fair criticism
with the questions that are presented to him.
What he writes is pleasant reading, interesting
both in matter and manner; and it is set down
concisely and clearly. As a book of reference this
volume is certainly useful, and it is also worthy of
praise as a piece of literary production.
67