New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1886-12-16
ART FOR CHILDREN.

ART FOR CHILDREN.
THE MAKING OF PICTURES; BY SARAH rn W. infer
MAN PIP. 1871, Chicago and Boston Inc ih''i
State Publishing Co.
Tho scres of "Talks upon Art with Young People"
rcrr n,ed under the title OF "The Making OF ficV
u cs," forms O sensible and useful ntue Noi"ho'
Now that cturcs OF kind or another are seen ev
eywhcre it may be supposed that the methods OF their
product on a frequent subject Of childish cur'os
ity. Mrs. Whitman, Boston artist and former
Tup OF Hunt, endcavors TO satisfy this curiosity by
explanations general and intelligent. The common
Ind OF picture making. by Photographic processes
occupies very limited spacc, and tho descriutiohs
nero are the least satisfactory. The hellotype word
now usually applied TO an older process, Is used as IL
synonymous with phototype and Abertypc. Mrs.
whitman would lead inexperienced reader 10 con-
siler the old Osgood prints and the Lewis process
Pms Of to day both helotypcs and one and inc
| same. Tho chapter upon Exhibitions ana eaics
seems to uncallcd for but the Introductory chap-
vers to be highly commended. Mrs. Whitman writes
a rational and unaffected manner, even when dis
cussng abstract questions VIII CHI are apt to plunge
writer's Of tart for children" into sttcd gcncrates.
Her distinctions between limitations and works OF art
clearly put and her illustrations evidently based
upon Met's work, ia admirable. Her proposition
that zone should be able TO express canvas or pa
PER not only what Sees but also what one thinks
and feels about what sees" Is so well enforced
that 1t will be remembered by young readers. Again,
Pictures may be pa nted without either intelligence
or feeling; but you Will not nccd to be asked how
much they worth to the world. Indeed the fund
mental material OF an artist is his
ointment and IDEAS: no learns every
ning for the sake Of being able to express
these" This kind of teaching is certain TO produce
bias toward right appreciation of art. Mrs. Whit
man, however, occupies space than Is neces-
cary with abstract principles. She describes the gen.
methods oil and watercoor painting, etch ng'
wood and line engraving in helpful way, with deh-
ions sometimes suggestive Of Hamerton but seldom
| inapt
TALKS WITH SOCRATES ABOUT LIFE. TRANSLA-
TlONS FROM THE GORGIAS AND THE REPUBLIC
OF PLATO. 16mo, PIP. 49, Charles scribners Sons.
1t is to be hoped that the popular RESPONSE to
the TRANSACTIONS from Plato Of which this is the
second instalment signifies genuine and abiding
interest in the deep questions which are thus
brought within the reach Of the general reader
The translatiOns, the preface and the notes are
| highly mertorious. note OF almost perfect
ciuity Is struck in the introduction, caught per-
haps from the dialogues themselves for Plato is a
marvellous clarfer Of the intelligence, and those
| who study him earnestly prohibited from in
diligence in circumlocution. Not the least inter
estng fact about this little volume is that 1t is
| the work Of a woman, whose scholarship and in
sight herein present an illustration Of the capac
| tiles of her sex worth great deal of argument
| less practically supported.
The "Talks with Socrates comprise the Cor
gias and part of The Republic, and the selections
al iudicious and representative, whether for the
matter or the manner The subjects considered
IRE of the most important; the method Of discus
sion is finely illustrative Of the sys
tenn and the translation is faithful
and sympathetic There are, too in
the Socratic considerations on the Material and
the Ideal many points which possess present sig
nifcance and are capable Of application to the
dominant lines Of mental development in these
modern and materalist times.