New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1889-11-29


no suspected of finding Jeireries difficult or of
nrjvatelv yearnng over Thoreau, are often moved
70 genuine enthusiasm by comparatively indihcr-
IN, nictorial illustrations of the life Of the field
and woods Ii may be inferred in these cases that
memorys hall" is but scantly furnished with
outdoor pictures and than readers ability TO
create these pictures under the stimulus OF al
author is by no means common. Thus we have
come 10 have several illustrators, who occupy
themselves with the preparation of landscape
" views or " bits" or studies of the sea, when
are usually framed in flowers, vines sawed,
with birds or insects relnarques. All TINS COLI
scious labored effort becomes monOtonous 10 one
who NOTES it's results year after year, ana 10
is Main enough that the results have but shgh1
connection with art. For spontaneity Is Oun
of the question in the case of the proieSlon"i
Illustrator of NATURE" who is apt to become
possessed by two ideas, that he or she must "is-
cover some novelty" and that this must be pre-
sented in an effective catching lorih'
FINDER these conditions it would be waste
Of time to take illustrations of this
GLASS too seriously That they commend thcm-
selves to a very large class is shown by their ap-
nearance wear after year, and we have said, the
Influence of their subjects should be wholesome,
s,an IL their art is calculated 10 strengthen the
hands of the Philistines. In the volume before
Ms Which has the familiar oblong shape ana
blazoned covers the selections from Colonel Ing
0inson's suggestive Outdoor Papers are accomlF'-
MED by a multitude of landscape and floral s'uuics
bv Miss Irene f. Jerome The artists work SHOWS
care and an earnest desire to realize the picturesque
but the naivetc and frequent bleahness OF Tue
compositons the want of tact IN selectoh anu
omission and the characterless drawing resVr'c'
the value of these designs to the limits wllich WE
have indicated. In other respects the BOOK Is oic
of much merit.
The publishers of Lovers poem. The Low
baclid Car" made an appropriate choice III Selcc'
ing Mr. Magrath as its illustrator Before MT.
Magrath became infatuated with neo-ciaSsiciSn VI
the Alma Tadcma variety he had earned Il Su'-
stantial reputation as painter OF the ir'Sn p'"
antry The theme was familiar ana cohseh''''
and his better Irish genres were characNri~o" ~
truthfulness and entirely sympathetic expression
In the illustrations before US 1t may De n'"'''i
of opinion whether the Sweet Peggy ol '"V
artist is entirely adequate but nc Is certainty ~
he credited with an individual. interesting ana
probable character. Moreover, hr has dscree'N
RETAINED from prcttifying his central figure an"
this sef-restraint is praiSeworthy. As iof olher
features the figures in the market-place the SiSi-
ing lover the tolgate keeper, the gimpscs OF lah
scape and cottages and the wonderful car HSeI'
il will hc found that they show sympathetic ul-
Outstanding Of the theme and adequate technical
ability. There are twelve fuli-page photographers
and twelve initial drawings engraved on wood.
| IT, is impossible not to feel a sympathy with
| artists who are set to the task Of realizing III
ideal which, as they must he we'll aware. has
already taken infinite variety OF forHs IN the
minds Of n host Of readers. For example. Mr.. H. W
PIERCE has undertaken 10 represent IN" heroine
of Tennysons always popular poem The MIllers
DAUGHTER His conception, N we ind II IN the
frontispiece does not seem 10 Us preferable to the
suggestions of the verses and we fancy that many
Others will share our opinion. The artist is hardly
10 he congratulated upon his rendering of the face
in this or upon the figure offered as cmbodylns
the description of the miller in the first verse.
This is a clever figure undoubtedly, useful blt
Of genre material, but we may be pardoned Tor
declining to accept il as the portly English miller
Mr.. Perce has furnished several figure drawings
for this book. which are usually respectable. at
least and there are landscape and other studies
| by Messrs Fem. Garrett. Appleton Brown and
j. d. Woodward. The sketches Of The mill and the
| glr1-sps of landscape are usually designed with
much tact and the Illustrations throughout NAV be
| fairly regarded as possessing more than average
merit The engravings show some lack OF delicacy,
very likely due to the printing. Some of the
process plates. for example the view of the mill
at night, show excellent effects.
The Wooing of Grandmother Grey a ballad
of homey sentiment with one of the pathetic end
ings favored by writer's Of to-day, is accompanied
by numerous engravings after illustrative de-
signs by Mr. Charles Copeland. The frontispccc
! ,Io ,fH ocfu fifIfo
work. Indeed this character is shown so strongly
in certain ways that the figure becomes intimatey
suggestive of a photograph from life Tie other
drawings show an intelligent sympathy with the
text which finds comparatively naive expression
In other words. the drawings are certainly not
valuable on account Of their art. but those who
| look to subject will be attracted by the story
| which they indicate.
We might infer an increase Of interest in &C.
| clcsastical architecture from the appearance this
season of three volumes dealing with the subject
| in one way or another. The book which comes
to us from Ticknor d Co. is primarily for pro
| fcssional architects. who will find in these three
volumes in one vast amount Of valuable ma
tcrial There are two comprehensive essays upon
the architecture Of the Middle Ages and It's spire
| growth, and til spires and towers OF medieval
| England These essays have most useful ac-
| compartment in sevcnty-two drawings OF English
| spires and towers, which have ben reproduced
by the helotype process. These plates rcpr sent
an intermediate stage, before the completion OF
| the more elaborate colOred plates prepared f0I
| Mr. WickeS's important work on the Spires and
| Towers of Medieval England and, rs presented
| here, they are essentially outline drawings, bat
they will be found to be entirely adequate
| MsSsrs Tclnor d Co. publish this uncolorcd
edition OF Mr. Wicloss work. issuing the three
volumes in one with forty pages Of text and notes
! Some of these drawings have appeared already
| in The American Architect and the complete
| collection which is now presented will doubtless
| be welcomed by the profession as it deserves.