New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1886-11-19
NEW PUBLICATIONS.
so,sr uInsrRATEp BOOKS.

sr,,,,,rrs FROM THE PORTUGUESE BY. ELIZABETH
BARRErT BRowNISe llastra'eo ny h"'ie ~
THE VICAR OF WAKEFIELD by oyE io SoL nS ag
with TAI illustrations by V. A. porsoh' Pp' 1'i'
New-York George Routedge sons
~r.r FRENCH WOMAN OF THE CENTURY. BY Oc-
fave UzANSE illustrated by Albert IT. Lynch PIP
FAIR INES BY THOMAS HOOD. Illustrated by W ST
John Harper and +. W. Freer. PIP 81 Boston
Estes Iauriat
Among the more important Christmas publica-
tions il the handsome long quarto edition OF MIS-
Rrowuings Sonnets from the Portuguese" illus
trated by Ludwig Sandoe Ipsen, The illustrations
are in the form of elaborate marginal illumination,
Enclosing the text usually on three sides. A re-
markable fecundity of invention cha1acterizes the
dcs,ons in which the graceful Elasticity OF horeate
forms counts for much. BY free use of the sugges-
tions of plant growth and arrangement an almost
infinite variety Of characterization has been secured.
The combinations are IN themselves SO fuli OF
heauty of outline and the cham OF bod ana grace
fui curves as 10 need little reef but THIS Is apuh
dainty supplied IN he introduction OF emD'emauc
and symbolic figures which are IN harmony alike
with the though, and the floral decoration. These
illustrations, be NC complimentary and not ootru-
s,ve GIVE richness and scope to the sOnnets. the
deI,cacy and tender pa,hos If which is in no IN
stance touched otherwise than helpfully by these
sympathetic and judicious drawings.
n po;rson,s Illustrations of Z" The Vicar OF Wake
field - are Uneven but we may add they are uOre-
markable either 10 one way or the other III uoos
not seem unfair assign them to the wafer crane
and Kate Greenaway ORDER of which we have had
a surfe,t within the last few years. Sometimes
the arts, is clever and amusing aud his character
izations have a Gallo pIqnancy. Again We ma
him constrained by sense that lightness OF touch
is expected. Maurice Lelor charms us with MS
daintlness and humor throughout his work, but we
Nv RI
the curtain falls Some of his rendl'lons
are drearily bald and literal and we
carry away no vivid memory OF any OF
his characters although some OF them entertain
us for the moment despite our conviction that 'he
entertainment is not new. These illustrations are
printed in coors. but we cannot say much I'D praise
of the colOring, which is crude, or OF the use OF
floral designs a way which has no meaaih2 aui
which is seldom ornamental. The book boasts
WIDE margins and uncut edges and the typography
is excellent
Equally inviting to the biblIophiles taste Is NJ,
JJzaune's French Woman of the Century," Illus
trated by Albert Lynch. The artists wateI-color
drawings are reproduced in cOlors His opportuni-
ties have been good Jean Beraud would nave
given us sketches of modern Pdrisan life at least,
which would have been delightful IN their VIVA
cious, sparkling qualities bat Mr. Lynch Is not
only not vivaciOus draughtsnan, but often an IN
accurate one. His figures want llfe and we leave
him with sense almost OF evaporation that 50
little has been made of the subject
The Fair Ines" is very slight example OF the
illustrated literature of the day. Mr.. Harper mas
furnished a few pretty faces and Mr. Freer mas
endeavored to provide little local color out
neither artist has done himself much credit and the
engraving is poor Illustration of this kind is cheap
in these days an simply renews curiosity as to the
source of the demand.