Studio: international art (19.1900)

Reviews

analysis and appreciation of technical excellence,
and in his treatment of the art of Millais he is at
his best. The volume is full of well reproduced
illustrations, and is admirable in every respect.

Rtliques of Old London. Drawn in lithography
by T. R. Way. (London : George Bell & Sons.)
Price 2i5. net. — This, the fourth volume of
drawings of Old London by Mr. T. R. Way,
very worthily completes the series devoted to a
fascinating subject. The feeling of pleasure inspired
by Mr. Way's work in the earlier volumes is
fully maintained in the present one. Indeed, the
artist's powers seem to have become strengthened
by experience. There is a surety of expression and
a delicacy of touch in some of his latest produc-
tions which proclaim him a master of lithographic
technique. Plate 4, The Tower of London from
the River, and plate 16, Clapham Common, North
side, are of particular excellence. The descriptions
of the subject of each plate by Mr. H. B. Wheatley,
F.S.A., add much to the value of the collection.

Reubens: His Life, his Work and his Time. By
Emile Michkl. Translated by Elizabeth Lee.
Two volumes. (London: William Heinemann.)—
The labour bestowed by the author upon the
gathering together of materials for this important
study must have been immense. Every source of
information available has been tapped by him in
order to render his work as reliable and complete
as possible. The universality of the genius of
Reubens is acknowledged ; his activity was great
and his productions abundant. To separate the
important work from the trivial, and to place
them in the just position they should hold in
the history of art, is a feat which, in these days
of ephemeral book-making, redounds greatly to
the credit of the author. The value of the work
is enhanced by the large number of illustrations
which accompany it. The numerous photo-
gravures of the important works and the coloured
and tinted reproductions of the sketches are
especially noteworthy. A word of praise must also
be accorded to the translator for the excellent
rendering of the text into English.

The Art and the Pleasures of England. By
John Ruskin. (London: George Allen.) Price
55. net. The Art and Teaching of John Ruskin.
By W. G. Collingwood, M.A. (London : Riv-
ington.) Price 35. (id. Ruskin and the Religion
of Beauty. By R. de la Sizhranne. Translated
by the Countess of Galloway. (London: George
Allen.) 5.?. net. John Ruskin. By M. H. spiel-
mann. (London : Cassell & Co.)—At a time like
the present, when the world of art is mourning the

138

loss of John Ruskin, one of its greatest teachers
and most fascinating litterateurs, an unusual interest
cannot fail to be aroused in all that pertains to him
and to his life's work. One of his more recent
publications, which appeared originally in paper-
covered numbers, and which dealt mainly with
modern English art, is now reissued in volume
form at a popular price under the title of The Art
and the Pleasures of England, and may be recom-
mended to those who have not hitherto had the
opportunity of reading Mr. Ruskin's opinions upon
the works of Rossetti, Burne - Jones, Leighton,
Alma Tadema and other art workers. To those
who would wish to know something of the cha-
racter and tendency of Ruskin's works, Mr. Colling-
wood's excellent handbook may be strongly
commended. It displays a most intimate know-
ledge of the great master's writings, and is, more-
over, systematised with admirable care and ability.
M. de la Sizeranne's essays are a worthy appre-
ciation on the part of a French art critic of the
work of his English confrere. The Religion of
Beauty is a well chosen title, for it gives expres-
sion to a conviction that is always present in the
master's writings. Mr. Spielmann's appreciation
bears too many evidences of haste in its prepara-
tion to do full justice to himself or to his subject,
but it is, nevertheless, not without a certain interest
and value.

Ldylls of the King. By Alfred Tennyson.
Decorated and illuminated by the Brothers
Rhead. (New York : R. H. Russell. London :
Macmillan & Co.) Price 15*. net.—The numerous
drawings in black and white by George Woolliscroft
Rhead and Louis Rhead which illustrate this work
cannot but uphold the high reputation which these
artists enjoy. They are in some respects quite
notable examples of pen work, and may be
recommended to the attention of students for their
many technical excellencies. But in spite of their
good\ qualities, the general appearance of the
book is unsatisfactory. The type is ugly, the
borders commonplace, the paper unpleasant in
texture, and the mise en page ill-considered. It is
depressing to see so much excellent work wasted
through want of a little good taste.

Die Ltisel Zipangu. By A. J. Mordtmann,
with chromo lithographs and drawings by Hugo
L. Braune. (Leipzig : Schmidt & Spring.)—This
is a real old-fashioned book of fairy tales with the
true mediaeval ring about it. It is, however, at
the same time, thoroughly original, and will entrance
the interest of the fortunate children who are able
to read German. It is chiefly the tale of a