Studio: international art (12.1898)

Reviews of Recent Publications

each book is greatly enhanced by the uniformity in
style of illustration adopted throughout the scries.

Old English Glasses. By Albert Hartshorne,
I'.S.A. (London: Edward Arnold.) Price
$s. net. In his introduction to this im-
portant work the author refers at some length
to glass-making among the ancients and among
the various European nations, illustrating his

this beautiful hook is a rare pleasure, for with pen
and pencil Mr. Blomfield analyses the art of a
superb period of our national life, and shows that
the Renaissance inspired our trained craftsmen
steeped in Gothic design to expend their artifice
on work derived indeed from Italy, but acclima-
tised in their hands to become a native product by
the skill of its workmen. Far different is this vital

remarks by numerous full-page lithographs of
undoubted value. In his treatment of the main
topic of his work, he shows himself to be a master
of patience and painstaking research. We know of
no other treatise which deals so exhaustively with the
subject. The history of the Renaissance of glass-mak-
ing in England in the seventeenth century is highly
interesting, though attended with some obscurity.
Fortunately, there is much documentary evidence
relating to it, not the least valuable of wThich are
the letters written by John Greene, of London, an
importer of Venetian glasses during the latter half
of the seventeenth century. The sketches which
accompanied his instructions to his agents abroad
showr the particular forms' wdiich were in vogue at
that time in England. Some unpublished details of
this period of the history of glass-making, which,
however, do not materially alter Mr. Hartshorne's
conclusions, may be found in the minute-book of
the Glass Sellers' Company, 1671 to 1712, during
the greater portion of which time Mr. Greene was
a regular attendant at its court meetings. Col-
lectors of Jacobite glasses will find figured in Mr.
Hartshorne's work many typical and fine examples.

A History of Renaissance Architecture in Eng-
land. By Reginald Blomfield. (George Bell &
Sons.) 2 vols. 50J. net. -To read the pages of
202

architecture from the dull formality of later periods,
when classic sources were also freely drawn upon.
A craze for pedantically accurate imitations of
Greek temples helped to destroy the last remnants
of individual craft, so that from the period Mr.
Blomfield discusses to our own, English archi-
tecture has lacked the soul which comes from the
handiwork of its actual masons and carvers. As
you study Mr. Blomfield's work you perceive that
its lucid argument and well-balanced style are but
the outward expression of matured thought. Steeped
in the knowledge of his theme, he is yet able to
write clearly, and with judicial impartiality that is
singularly convincing. The hundreds of beautiful
sketches retain the spirit of the wrork he depicts
far beyond the power of any photograph.

Windows: a Book about Stained Glass. By
Lewis F.Day. (London: Batsford.) 21s. net.—This
book has been long expected, and proves to be
well worth waiting for. Mr. Day has done a
worthy piece of work in even more than his
usual admirable manner. The volume traces the
workmanship of stained glass from the twelfth to
the seventeenth century ; and its design from the
earliest mediaeval window to the latest glass-picture
of the Renaissance. Besides these two important
aspects of his theme, Mr. Day has devoted several