New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1892-06-20
NEW PUBLICATIONS.

IL il perbaps useless 10 EXPECT handbooks OF
archaeology TO be perfect The specialist whose
faculty for compression amounts to genius has
not vet arisen, and every new book on the sub
jet is badly proportioned and has flaws Of omis-
sion. Yet it is something TO have come nearer
TO perfection than most writers Of manuals, and
that is what Mr.. A. S. Murray. Of the British
Museum, has done in his Handbook Of Greek
Archaeology" published by Charles Scribner's
Sons His book leaves considerable 70 be desired.
Even though he sets out 10 review "wel-dis-
cused and generally accepted truths, leaving
aside the accumulation Of Details" still hand
book is handbook; and turning the pages OF
this one it is not unnatural to ask why some
things have been omitted, why the Ganzaga
cameo is not mentioned in the chapter on gems,
why the gold cups NJ Tsountas found in the
Vaphei0 tomb near Amycae are not touched upon
especially as one Of them furnishes, In one OF
it's details so interesting parallel TO the wall
paintings from Tiryns, the acrobat and the pun,
which Mr. Murray reproduccs-why Mycenae Is
not drawn upon for any examples OF WORK III
precious metal and, despite the recommendation
10 other sources, why the chapter on architecture
is SO small But the quality Of the work actually
performed is so good that it would be ungracious
to crticise Mr.. Murray severely for what he has
left undone. His treatment Of his theme In
broad manner gives his book literary value and
his dissertations on the products Of the primi-
tive period, on engraved gems, on sculptures IN
relief statuary. terra cottas and paintings are
far above the average essays of the sort we are
Glad t. sec that in regard to early painting he
does not follow the lead of NJ. CoignOn, who, in
his Manual" dismisses the paintings of Pompeii
with line on the score Of their belonging 10 the
history of art in Italy and TO degenerate age.
Mr. Murray gives them the honor they deserve
as remnants Of Grccan traditions. His book is
illustrated with quantity Of process cuts. ana
with twenty fine full-page Photographic plates;
and is printed we'll and has good index.
aThc New-York Obelsk: Cleopatra's Needle
by Mr. Charles f. Moldenke (Ncw-York A. d. +.
Randolph a. Coz, book with a particularly
hideous yellow cover, is really study Of obellSks
la general. in which the one in Central Park has
prominence for obvious reasons. The book gives
a list of all the obelsks at present known, with
their height and the names of their localities ana
builders describes the quarrying, transporting ana
raising of the huge monoliths and supplies much
information relating TO the inscriptions on several
of them, including our own. 1t is a curious book
on O curious subject
When Manet's Olympia was admitted to the
Luxembourg, about three years ago, Paris expert
enced thrill of excitement that communicated
itself to ali the art centres of the world. I'M
pressionism had received the mark of Official APP
prevail: what would happen next? Since then
the French Government has developed quite an
admiration for the followers of Manct-possibly 1t
has occurred to the Administration that the way
in which tho Barbizon painters were neglected
was not creditable TO France and that it would
DC Just as we'll to avoid the recurrence of such
scandal-and one Of the latest news notes from
Paris is TO the effect that works by Monet, Renolr
and Pisssrro have been placed in the National
collection. But the Nation cannot. by this tardy
demonstration, deprive of its citizens of the
distinction of having discovered the Impression
lists, Of having formed the best collection of their
works that exists anywhere, and of having made
possible the most appropriate monument to their
glory that has thus far seen the light. II Is
fitting that NJ Durand-Ruel, who patronizcd
Manet, Pissarro, Dcgas. and their colleagues
twenty years ago, when scarcely any one else
would look at their pictures, should give to the
world to-day In a volume entitled LArt I'M
pressioniste" paris: Topographic Chamerot ct
Renouard), and written for him by NJ Georges
Lecomte, an account of the pictures in his private
couectiOn;-a volume which offers the first
elaborated and adequate notice Of the painters
whose novel and transforming theories have been
at the bottom Of the most serious movement in
Rue has gathered together the best works Of
all the Impressionists. lie has what is unique,
Venetian scene by Manet; he has the same
painters "Danseurs Espagnols7 ; he has Monet's
"Mendes Giverncy" and Eglise de Varange
Vile he has Renoirs "Deieuner a Bougival,"
and tho Ballet de Don Juan of Degas, and
besides these and other pictures by the same
men, he has examples of Miss Cassatt, Nine.
Morizot, Pissarro, Forain, John Lewis Brown.
Lcpine, Puvis de Chavannes, and Rodn. All
these treasures NJ. Lecomte describes in very
sprighty style, and with ample appreciation of
the genuine force which they represent. Thirty
six Of them have been eproduced-onc Of them,
beautiful marble group by Robin, by Photographic
process the rest by clever etcher, NJ. A. NJ.
Lauzct. The book is typical Of reputable Paris
press, which is saying good DEAL and in it's
vellum cover is q handsome memorial of brilliant
school and of Tin its way brilliant collcc
ton - !!
Mr. Lewis +. Days Mature in Ornament"
lNcw-York: Charles Scribner's Sons should be
of great service to the cause of decorative design
1t not only brings home to the artist sense of
the abundance Of motives to be extracted from
plant and animal life, but it crowds into an
octave of 247 pages, book of very convenient
form, such large number of illustrations, drawn
from tile works of past ages, and showing the
SUCCESS with which those motives can be conven-
tionalized and applied to purposes of ornament.
that the architect and decorator must find the
book an inexhaustible source Of inspiration and
guidance Mr.. Days remarks on the simpllfica-
ton and elaboration of natural FORMS on consist
ency in the modification Of nature, and on the
grotes.ue arc suggestive and practical. One point
made by Mr.. Day is especially to be praised. lie
insists that nature should be conventionalizcd
when 1t is introduced into ornament. lie wisely
adds that in accepting the term conventional I'VE
must be careful 10 distinguish convention from
convention and especially from that academic
acceptation of the term which would give us TO
Tho If patI has