New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1883-01-07


frapmeutary passages, and of course he talied 10
lift ND his audience The really great artist IS IN
spired by great themes Ole Blu was only inspired
by romantic ones
LECTURES on ART. Delivered in support OF the
Society Tor the Protection of Ancient Bulldhg@ o'o
Up. London Naomi Ian Co.
This neat volume contains five lectures by X. =
Poole. Professor w. i. Richmond. +. J. Poyn'er'
RAIL- Mcklethwaite and William Morris. Only
one of them treats distinctly upon the matter OF
preserving ancient buildings. and that the hfsi by
Mr.. Poole upon the " Egyptian Tomb and the
Future Staten This discourse IS a swift and popn-
lar presentation of some OF the Egyptian beliefs
and PRACTICES and brings ont divers facts as TO the
making If munmies and building Of tomns OF
which last the gIeat Pyramids are the most stIi&-
ing lie shows that the priesthoods encouraged
the belief in a future life, and made money out oil
of that belief He distinctly asserts that Piazz
Smiths ingenious theory as to the meaning and
purpose of the Great Pyramid of Cheops is ex-
ploded and that il was tomb, and was INTENDED
for the Qualification OF king lie aments the de-
structon and robblng of the Egyptian Toin0s
| which has been widespread and Unsuitable aad
! charges his own people and nation with having
been foremost III robbing them In the past and in
| the present.
Professor Richmonds lecture is entitled, "MOnu-
mental Pain ing" but in fact is a discourse upon
the three arts of sculpture, painting ana archtec-
ture and does much to show their mtcrdeprndence.
Almost as matter of course, lie praises highly the
work Of the fifteenth century artists and calls al
| tentlon TO samples Of work done by men Ike
Giotto Brunelsci, Mantegna, NJ chael Angelo, etc.
Mr.. Povnter treats Of Ancient Decorative Art +"
in the one OF fusome praise now so much the lash
ion. He confesses that there can be nothing new to
1 lima md h.
the old straw and brings up again the
Greek vase, with the customary phrases
splendor of compositions" precision OF
outline" exquisite perception etc. &C. Among
some good and wise things he puts upon us some
bad things, and surprising things snch as this; u
! give you as an illustration Of sCyle single figure
from a vase. bur any other would illustrate just as
| we'll the purity of outline and the completeness
of composition which is to lie found in all the de-
SIGNS on the Greek vases Of the archaic and best,
and even of the later periods" Note the word all,
and then note thai Oh the next page he says, Mr.
Birch conjcctures the same fact that the compost
ton on these vases is frequently better than the
J drawing" So far from being perfect. those who
have made any study Of the Greek vase know that
a large number of them are lamentably deficient
both in drawing well az IN composition. But
right OF wrong, Mr.. Poynter's lecture Is at least
readable.
| Mr. Michlethwaite treats of the English Parish
Churches" in an intelligent and interes ing way,
for he knows whereof he writes. Among the in er-
estng facts presented he mentions the early English
parish church as having been formed after the pat
tern of the Roman Basica, and states that at Brix
worth TODAY can be the greater part Of such
church built ny the followers of St. Augustine about
ESQ He calls attention to the fact that later when
towers were added. they were built, mot by Dor
rowing money aud payingit off by degrees but
by building slowly they collected funds TO do ii
with"
If those people were no better Christians than we
they were better business men, Heurges in various
ways the preservation of all early buildings, and
properly despises and contemns the gaudy resto-
rations" latterly in vogue all over England.
The two last lectures. by William Morris, upon
"Pattern Designing" aud I" The Lesser Arts of
Life.D will be most read because of the fame and
work of the man. While they are far from perfect
"a lectures. they contain much that the reader will
wish to know, because they tell Of all things which
Mr.. Morris himself kuows-not from book, bu
from his work and experience. He says concerning
ST. Peters at Rome:
THAT new Church of ST. Peter, which still
curses the mightIest city OF the wOrld-the very
tyne il seems to me of pde and tyranny, OF All tina
brushes out the love OF art In simple people, ant
makes art a toy of little estimation for the idle
hours OF the rich and cultivated"
While these lectures cannot be classed among tn
most valuable, they contain much which the stu
| dants will wish 10 know