Studio: international art (30.1904)

Reviews

other experts in criticism, such as Messrs. R. E.
Fry, F. M. Perkins, G. R. Dennis, Malcolm Bell,
and A. L. Baldry. In addition to its many sterling
qualities as a reliable book of reference, the new
edition, of which the first volume only is now
issued, will be enriched with more than five hun-
dred full-page illustrations, forty of them photo-
gravure plates, which, apart from their elucidation
of the text, will incidentally afford a very remarkable
commentary on the immense progress made of late
years in the art of mechanical reproduction.
Amongst the plates in the first volume are very
beautiful renderings of works so diverse in character
as Correggio's Notle, Bellini's Miracle of the Holy
Cross, Boucher's Madame de Po??ipadour, Con-
stable's Salisbury Cathedral, Madox Brown's Cor-
delia, and Burne-Jones' King Cophetua ; whilst the
numerous half-tone blocks include fine renderings
of such old favourites as the National Gallery
Portrait of Andrea del Sarto, by himself, Cara-
vaggio's Lute-Player, the pastel Portrait of a Lady
by Rosalba Camera, Bonington's Old Governess,
and Creswick's Pathway to the Village Church, with
examples of the work of such recently deceased
artists as Sidney Cooper, Arnold Bocklin, John
Brett, and Benjamin-Constant. When complete
the five volumes will no doubt take rank amongst
the standard publications of the twentieth century ;
and could an appendix on sculptors and architects
be added, they would form a complete art library in
themselves.

Studies in Plant Form. By G. Woolliscroft
Rhead. (London : B. T. Batsford.) £i net.
—The issue of this excellent series of " Studies
in Plant Form" is significant of the very
great advance made during the last few
decades in the art of ornamentation. Not so
very long ago any design, however crude, was
considered good enough for what may perhaps
be called supplementary decoration, such as the
end-papers of books, whereas now even the
humblest designs must be really artistic, and pub-
lishers think it worth their while to secure the
services of such true masters as H. Granville Fell
and A. Garth Jones to give to their books the
final touch of distinction. These plates, one and
all alike broad and effective in treatment, and
absolutely faithful to nature, include a great variety
of floral forms supplemented by magnified examples
of their details. The "Spring Buds" and "Fritillary"
are especially good, and the two examples of actual
adaptation, the Title-page and the "List of Con-
tents," prove that Mr. Rhead is himself able to
practise successfully what he teaches so well.

Modern Civic Art. By Charles Mulford
Robinson. (New York and London: G. P. Put-
nam's Sons.)—Mr. C. M. Robinson has made the
subject of which this book treats one particularly
his own, and the present volume may be considered
as a supplement to his " Improvement of Towns
and Cities," published two or three years ago. The
considerations with which he deals cover so large a
field, and are susceptible of being treated with so
much illustrative matter, that the author is, perhaps,
wise in confining himself to a critical discussion
of his subject, and disregarding the temptation to
illustrate either by photographs or plans. Treating
as it does, of the laying out and adornment of cities,
either at the hand of civic authorities or of private
individuals, his work appears at a time when, in
England, there is an unwonted opportunity of profit-
ing by the summarised experience culled from cities
on both sides of the Atlantic, and considered by the
author with taste and judgment. It seems certain
that the promoters of the garden city are, at last, to
see their dream take concrete form. We believe
they have, with some definiteness, decided on the
general lines to which it is to conform, but, never-
theless, we think they are likely to find in the
present work helpful suggestions. To them, and
to all interested in the subject, and indulging in
visions of the City Beautiful, we commend this
book.

Toledo and Malrid. By Leonard Williams.
(London : Cassell & Co.) 12s. dd. net.—The reader
who once opens this fascinating record of experiences
in the magic land of Spain will be compelled to
read it from beginning to end, so enthralling ^is
the interest: of every page. The author, the
" Times" correspondent at Madrid, confesses
frankly that it is not the present capital of the
country that he loves, but "Toledo, the old residence
of the kings, from time immemorial the eagle city,
fitting home for a warrior race that is still, in spite
of her present isolation, constant to her glorious
past." The town itself may, indeed must, succumb
to time, " but not," says Mr. Williams, " her legends
and her glories ; gathering these within the shelter
of her eyrie, she glares across the plain at intruders."
Not so Madrid, which, in spite of the great
importance of her ancient records, " has been
stript by the foreign usages introduced by the
Bourbon kings of her quaintest and most national
characteristics." " There are," says the author
of this true criticism, " positively Madrilenos
who deem it no disgrace to ride in motor-
cars or to play football." Unfortunately the illus-
trations of this delightful volume are by no means

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