DOI issue:
No. 57 (December 1897)
DOI article:Reviews of recent publications
DOI Page / Citation link:https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.18390#0247
Reviews of Recent Publications
chapters to style and notes of general interest. adorn so many buildings in various parts of the
The illustrations number two-hundred and fifty- world, his thorough acquaintance with the many
seven, all good, and some few the best black-and- questions relating to his art is so universally ac-
white drawings of stained glass yet produced, knowledged, as to make it a foregone conclusion
Modern design supplies no single example, that a particular value would be attached to any
which leads one to hope that some time Mr. Day observations he might choose to publish upon that
may supplement his exhaustive researches into art. Nor can one but feel after a careful perusal
the past history of the craft by critical studies of his moderately styled "essay" that one's anticipa-
of its present and future prospects. In a short tions have been more than realised. His book is
notice it would be unfair to quote; but if only full of good things, of terse observations, of close
custodians of ancient glass would read and ponder reasoning. It is only when we come to examine
over the advice of this capital volume, then indeed the illustrations which ornament its pages that we ex-
the book would be a national gain. Whether perience at times something akin to disappointment,
you analyse the author's opinions on the use of Certain reproductions of his designs do not appear
white glass, on the limits of pictorial design, on to us to carry out satisfactorily the excellent prin-
ecclesiastical or domestic windows, what he says ciples he lays down in his text. The pictorial quality
is true and well put. It is a book
which reflects great credit on all
concerned in its production, and
adds new laurels even to one who
is Master of the Art Workers' Guild.
Poems. By John Keats. Illus-
trated by R. Anning Bell. (Lon-
don : Bell & Sons.) Price js. 6d.
To satisfactorily illustrate a book of
poems, it is of absolute importance
that the mind of the artist should
be attuned to that of the poet. A
complete accord in this respect is
so rare as to make us feel that
pictured editions of poems are, as a
rule, not the most desirable ones to
possess. The extreme susceptibility
to beauty in its manifold phases, the
delicate imagery, the glow of roman-
ticism so characteristic of the mind
of Keats, renders him one of the
most difficult of authors to illustrate.
It is, therefore, no mean praise to
say of the edition now before us,
that it is in every respect satisfactory
from cover to cover. We sincerely
congratulate Mr. Anning Bell upon
the success of his delightful illustra-
tions.
Stained Glass as an Art. By
Henry Holliday. (London : Mac-
millan & Co. Limited.) Price 2\s.
net.—A treatise upon any subject
written by one who has made that
subject his life's work cannot fail to
possess exceptional interest. Mr.
Holliday is so well known as an drawing by r. anning bell
artist in stained glass, his works from "poems" by john keats (bell and sons)
203
chapters to style and notes of general interest. adorn so many buildings in various parts of the
The illustrations number two-hundred and fifty- world, his thorough acquaintance with the many
seven, all good, and some few the best black-and- questions relating to his art is so universally ac-
white drawings of stained glass yet produced, knowledged, as to make it a foregone conclusion
Modern design supplies no single example, that a particular value would be attached to any
which leads one to hope that some time Mr. Day observations he might choose to publish upon that
may supplement his exhaustive researches into art. Nor can one but feel after a careful perusal
the past history of the craft by critical studies of his moderately styled "essay" that one's anticipa-
of its present and future prospects. In a short tions have been more than realised. His book is
notice it would be unfair to quote; but if only full of good things, of terse observations, of close
custodians of ancient glass would read and ponder reasoning. It is only when we come to examine
over the advice of this capital volume, then indeed the illustrations which ornament its pages that we ex-
the book would be a national gain. Whether perience at times something akin to disappointment,
you analyse the author's opinions on the use of Certain reproductions of his designs do not appear
white glass, on the limits of pictorial design, on to us to carry out satisfactorily the excellent prin-
ecclesiastical or domestic windows, what he says ciples he lays down in his text. The pictorial quality
is true and well put. It is a book
which reflects great credit on all
concerned in its production, and
adds new laurels even to one who
is Master of the Art Workers' Guild.
Poems. By John Keats. Illus-
trated by R. Anning Bell. (Lon-
don : Bell & Sons.) Price js. 6d.
To satisfactorily illustrate a book of
poems, it is of absolute importance
that the mind of the artist should
be attuned to that of the poet. A
complete accord in this respect is
so rare as to make us feel that
pictured editions of poems are, as a
rule, not the most desirable ones to
possess. The extreme susceptibility
to beauty in its manifold phases, the
delicate imagery, the glow of roman-
ticism so characteristic of the mind
of Keats, renders him one of the
most difficult of authors to illustrate.
It is, therefore, no mean praise to
say of the edition now before us,
that it is in every respect satisfactory
from cover to cover. We sincerely
congratulate Mr. Anning Bell upon
the success of his delightful illustra-
tions.
Stained Glass as an Art. By
Henry Holliday. (London : Mac-
millan & Co. Limited.) Price 2\s.
net.—A treatise upon any subject
written by one who has made that
subject his life's work cannot fail to
possess exceptional interest. Mr.
Holliday is so well known as an drawing by r. anning bell
artist in stained glass, his works from "poems" by john keats (bell and sons)
203