New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1867-04-19
FINE ARTS.

Miss Alice Donleyy has written, and Mr.. A. D. F.
Randolph has published, q useful little book on
Illumination" she calls it, and, on the whole, ii well
deserves the name. 1t gives full instruction, partly
drawn from the best authorltles ana partly from
materials his paper, INSTRUMENTS brushes pens, and
colors tells how to gold and silver Ill their diff
ferent forms of powder. leaf, and NIX gives full
descri1 finn # the various pigments in use, and in
short lelps ne INTEL gent learner long way on his
road The ok lays 40 claim to originality, butonly
offers to So the pupil the trouble of hunting
throu oh mn books for scattered bits Of advice and
information which he will here find arranged In
order in their proper places, The art OF Illumination
has lately been revived in England and France ana
the tenth wave is just now breaking on our own
shore One of its lesser manifestations is in the rage
for mOnograms, which are the fashion every where,
ON note-paper envelopes, OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES and
napkins although we believe few, here, nave lOl-
lowed Mr. Pugin's example and used them on Their
yistinp-cards and wedding cards. PugIn's wedding
card with his wife's cOat-of-arms and his own hang-
ing from opposite branches of rose-tree was apretty
fancy. Next TO these monoTsms, Wilch are, geLeI5
not constructed on sound principes-for, even q
monogram has its constructive prlnclples-next 10
these, then come the notices p[lciPa io1S nloi
scripture which SEQ in all the snop WINDOWS III
snch profnson and which look ratherou OF place on
the walls of our ordinary rooms but many OF when
ore very pretty and well-deSlgned. 1hese are tho
uses of illumination with which the general public is
more or less acquainted. but has numDerlesS Other
applications The whole art OF color decoration as
applied to walls and ceilings IN our houses anu
churches to furniture, and to glass, Is related 10 the
art of illumination proper which word is applied al
most exclusively to the decorations OF DOCKS WIN
art of illumination alone is to put fe IL not INTO inc
whole art of color decoration at least INTO an import
aWaHeni1g interest in the art itself and all its aPpli-
cations. Mr.. Mould, Mr. Eidltz, Mr.. Miller, nave
already accomplished much IN lalnlllailns our o o
accustomed eyes with colOrdecoration :, III our
churches, theaters, and public ha,s' anu
the taste is growing on az S Sdfsi
Miss Doneyys book would DO more hs sUl s plop
she does, and also, II her principles OF ucsIYn
sounder In reality she has very little Romna sbe
gives most Of which very unsatisfactory III ID
evident that she has written the book out Of an on
emnty, This is we'll. but it would have been better
if She had applied herself more diligently to study on
right principles on the only principle, indeed when
can give good results in this or any branch or the
artsowe mean the faithful following OF nature. III
Miss Donleyy had, for instance, carefully stHdled
those few principles OF decoration Win WIZ md then
proceeded TO set them before the pupils IN orue win
few well selected examples in illustration OF each
she would have rendered MS much greater service
than she has done by her somewhat confused assert
ment of directions and advice from divers writers ana
authorities So too. if instead OF constantly referring
us to what has already been done IN illumination
i'm mast ages she had cOntented herself WIN studying
caiefully the best works of the older artists anu Try
ing 70 get at the principles on Whcn tey i;n
ON those PRINCIPLES with ~ little reference as pos
sbe TO the particular practice OF tho elder men size
wOud have been pretty sure 10 Hato hlluVh out
n more profitabe path She is altogether too
much in awe of her authorities, and is continu-
ally holding them upto MS for our following when len
She ought 10 prove that they good teachers by
showing how they have developed her powers in q
new direction and not made her mere copyist of
Themselves, faults and all. However. we arc glad
she has made this little book because ii Will awaken
an interest in the subject IN the minds OF our
boys and girls and will lead to something better IN
fine No doubt She herself will see the shOrt-cOm-
inps of her own book and make second and moro
valuable essay IN the same field.