The Sun.
London, England, 1859-02-10 00:00:00

LITERATURE.

Japan and her People. By A. Steinmetz, Esq.,
Barrister. Routledge.
Japan and her people threaten to become as
wearisome as Constantinople and Hindostan have
lately done. Books of all sorts—histories, travels,
descriptions, essays, magazine papers, quarterly
articles—seem likely to render the subject tedious,
without the public obtaining much real or solid
information. The little work before us will at
least be useful in conveying some idea of the cus-
toms and habits of the Japanese, and of the amount
of our knowledge about them. It is compiled from
all the existing works of value on the subject, that
is to say, it is in the author's own words, but he
has read and studied all authorities of whatever
country, and has founded his account upon the
most authentic. It is very comprehensive and well
arranged, and the numerous illustrations will assist
the reader in forming a clear idea of the natural or
artificial curiosities represented.

New York to Delhi. By R. B. Minturn, junior.
Longman.
A lively and clever narrative of the impressions
of an American traveller, who went from New
York to Delhi by way of Rio de Janeiro, Australia,
and China. He, therefore, gives us an account of
some very different localities, describing them all
with spirit and animation, and the reader, when
he differs from the opinions expressed or the prin-
ciples defended, is always entertained by the style.
The author is evidently a man of sense and observa-
tion, and as such his work, even though on a some-
what hacknied subject, affords information and
entertainment.

•
Painting Explatned. By T. Gullick, painter, and
John Timbs, F.S.A. Kent and Co., Fleet-street.
This is another of those useful little works, pub-
lished under the auspices of Mr. Timbs, which
bring down the principles of arts and sciences to
ordinary comprehension. The object of this little
volume is to supply a practical history of painting,
showing the various steps made by succeeding
generations, and the processes through which each
department has passed before attaining its highest
development. It is a work calculated to
be especially useful and interesting to artists,
but, as the preface justly says, "As all
men cannot be painters or watchmakers—cannot
all learn how to do it or even see it done—surely
the next best thing must be to get a trustworthy
description of how it is done. This will at all
events save them from making some awkward
mistakes." Painting in tempera, and encaustic,
mosaic painting, missal illuminations, fresco paint-
ing, oil painting, and painting in water colours are
all discussed in separate departments, with an
account of their earliest mention, their progress
and development, and the chief artists in the
respective styles who lighted the path for: others.
It forms a very interesting record, which those
who appreciate the art will gladly avail themselves
of. It does not aim at being attractive to the general
reader—that would, indeed, be scarcely compatible
with the accuracy and minuteness of its details, but
it is calculated to be of much service to the young
student, and full of interest to the connoisseur and
collector. The labour and care manifest in its
composition, and the knowledge of Art and its
history which it displays, reflect the highest credit
on the writer and artist who are its joint authors.