DOI Heft:
No. 69 (December 1898)
DOI Artikel:Reviews of recent publications
DOI Seite / Zitierlink:https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.19230#0242
Reviews of Recent Publications
exceptional skill as an illustrator of children's books such deserve recognition now that the writing of
has frequently been the subject of laudatory com- really brilliant nonsense appears to be a lost art.
ment in the pages of The Studio. Her work is Mr. Ludovici has evidently studied the methods of
remarkable not only for its vigour, but also for its " A. Nobody," but the grotesque humour of his
refined humour. The illustrations to the volume illustrations is scarcely more spontaneous than
under notice show a marked advance, and, more- that of the verses,
over, bear evidence of real sympathy with the text, although the limita-
a quality that is by no means as usual in pictures tions of the material
for children's books as it should be. from which his in-
Forgotte?i Children's Books. Edited by Andrew spirations had to be
W. Tuer, F.S.A. (London: The Leadenhall derived no doubt
Press.) Price 6s.—Mr. Tuer's collection of pages somewhat handi-
from the children's books of a past age enables capped the artist,
one to realise the enormous change that has Fashion in Paris,
come over works of this class in modern days. 1797-1897. By
That humour was not absent amid the pedantry Octave Uzanne.
of our great-grandfathers, that dainty draughtsman- Translated from the
ship was employed side by side with rude un- French by Lady
scholarly work, is made evident by a glance Mary Loyd. Co-
through the numerous reproductions contained in loured plates and
this book. It may be that the vitality existing text illustrations by
even with the coarsest of these early illustrations Francois Cour-
rendered them at least equally acceptable to young boin. (London : W. drawing by francois cour-
, . , . . _ . boin. from " fashion in
folk as the better drawn but sometimes mane sub- Heinemann). Price PARISj 1797-1897." (london :
stitutes of modern times. Certain it is that they 36s. — Both author w. heinemann)
whose mission it is to cater for the children of and artist are to be
to-day can do themselves no harm by a careful congratulated upon
study of such an ' this work. As a history of costume during the last
excellent collection hundred years it possesses no worthy rival. M.
as Mr. Tuer has Octave Uzanne's text is, as usual, thoroughly bright
brought together, and interesting, and a word of praise is also due to
Children love most the translator for the admirable manner in which it
of all in their pic- has been rendered into English. The one hundred
tures plenty of ac- hand-coloured plates and numerous text illustrations,
tion, plenty of in- all designed by the same hand, are extremely attrac-
cident; and the old tive. M. Courboin possesses the rare quality of
books in this respect "selection," and of simple and direct portrayal,
are, generally speak- That which he depicts is necessary for elucidation,
ing, better than the while the detail he ignores would add nothing to a
modern ones. better understanding of his subjects.
Mothing but N011- An Alphabet of Animals. By Carton Moore
sense. By Mary Park. (London: Blackie & Son, Ltd.) — Mr.
Kernahan. Preface Park's drawings of animals are remarkably powerful
by Coulson Ker- and good. The salient characteristics of his subjects
nahan. Illustrated are produced with a Erenuine artistic ability and
drawing by francois cour- r a J
boin. from " fashion in Tony Ludovici. with a rare appreciation. While the presentment
paris, 1797-1897." (london: (London: James of the work recalls to mind somewhat the alphabet
w. heinemann) Bowden.)—If these recently designed by Mr. Nicholson, Mr. Park's
somewhat laboured drawings are in no respect an imitation of Mr.
and far-fetched Nicholson's manner. On the contrary, they pos-
rhymes contain no very whimsical flights of fancy, and sess remarkable individuality, and they cannot fail
are in no way comparable with the witty nonsense of to enhance the reputation of the artist. The illus-
Lear, Gilbert, and Lewis Carroll, they are, never- tration that we are permitted, by the courtesy of the
theless, tolerably good fooling of their kind, and as publishers, to reproduce, has been especially made
214
exceptional skill as an illustrator of children's books such deserve recognition now that the writing of
has frequently been the subject of laudatory com- really brilliant nonsense appears to be a lost art.
ment in the pages of The Studio. Her work is Mr. Ludovici has evidently studied the methods of
remarkable not only for its vigour, but also for its " A. Nobody," but the grotesque humour of his
refined humour. The illustrations to the volume illustrations is scarcely more spontaneous than
under notice show a marked advance, and, more- that of the verses,
over, bear evidence of real sympathy with the text, although the limita-
a quality that is by no means as usual in pictures tions of the material
for children's books as it should be. from which his in-
Forgotte?i Children's Books. Edited by Andrew spirations had to be
W. Tuer, F.S.A. (London: The Leadenhall derived no doubt
Press.) Price 6s.—Mr. Tuer's collection of pages somewhat handi-
from the children's books of a past age enables capped the artist,
one to realise the enormous change that has Fashion in Paris,
come over works of this class in modern days. 1797-1897. By
That humour was not absent amid the pedantry Octave Uzanne.
of our great-grandfathers, that dainty draughtsman- Translated from the
ship was employed side by side with rude un- French by Lady
scholarly work, is made evident by a glance Mary Loyd. Co-
through the numerous reproductions contained in loured plates and
this book. It may be that the vitality existing text illustrations by
even with the coarsest of these early illustrations Francois Cour-
rendered them at least equally acceptable to young boin. (London : W. drawing by francois cour-
, . , . . _ . boin. from " fashion in
folk as the better drawn but sometimes mane sub- Heinemann). Price PARISj 1797-1897." (london :
stitutes of modern times. Certain it is that they 36s. — Both author w. heinemann)
whose mission it is to cater for the children of and artist are to be
to-day can do themselves no harm by a careful congratulated upon
study of such an ' this work. As a history of costume during the last
excellent collection hundred years it possesses no worthy rival. M.
as Mr. Tuer has Octave Uzanne's text is, as usual, thoroughly bright
brought together, and interesting, and a word of praise is also due to
Children love most the translator for the admirable manner in which it
of all in their pic- has been rendered into English. The one hundred
tures plenty of ac- hand-coloured plates and numerous text illustrations,
tion, plenty of in- all designed by the same hand, are extremely attrac-
cident; and the old tive. M. Courboin possesses the rare quality of
books in this respect "selection," and of simple and direct portrayal,
are, generally speak- That which he depicts is necessary for elucidation,
ing, better than the while the detail he ignores would add nothing to a
modern ones. better understanding of his subjects.
Mothing but N011- An Alphabet of Animals. By Carton Moore
sense. By Mary Park. (London: Blackie & Son, Ltd.) — Mr.
Kernahan. Preface Park's drawings of animals are remarkably powerful
by Coulson Ker- and good. The salient characteristics of his subjects
nahan. Illustrated are produced with a Erenuine artistic ability and
drawing by francois cour- r a J
boin. from " fashion in Tony Ludovici. with a rare appreciation. While the presentment
paris, 1797-1897." (london: (London: James of the work recalls to mind somewhat the alphabet
w. heinemann) Bowden.)—If these recently designed by Mr. Nicholson, Mr. Park's
somewhat laboured drawings are in no respect an imitation of Mr.
and far-fetched Nicholson's manner. On the contrary, they pos-
rhymes contain no very whimsical flights of fancy, and sess remarkable individuality, and they cannot fail
are in no way comparable with the witty nonsense of to enhance the reputation of the artist. The illus-
Lear, Gilbert, and Lewis Carroll, they are, never- tration that we are permitted, by the courtesy of the
theless, tolerably good fooling of their kind, and as publishers, to reproduce, has been especially made
214