New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1894-11-26


everything that goes mechanically to make an
old writer welcome anew. But it is for the
book lover of peculiarly artistic tastes that this
edition was evidently projected it is the reader
who is also an amateur of prints who will covet
II most. Thirteen illustrations and a portrait
are inserted in the volume. etched by William
Strang and printed by Goulding; produced in
short. by two men whose handling of the needle
and press respectively is in many ways beyond
cavil Mr. Strang's etched work has appeared
in book form before. His Death and Doctor
Hornbook" has for some time been known
among collectors curious and artistic folio
The plates he has made for Bunyan are tech
nically well worthy of their admirable prede-
cessors The line is still simple. refined vigor-
Gus: and austere as BELTS Jealous disciple Of
LegrOs.
In one or two Of the plates (see that facing
page 16i. the "Chrisian Fighting Apollyon) th'
etcher gets closer than he ever has before To the
severe dignity which belongs to the ancient fore
runners Of Legros the Italian cngravers Of Mar
cantonios school. But it is in his appreciation
and calculation Of the text that Mr. Strang
has reached his lofties level. He has
done 50 paradoxically by adherng to the
least exalted strain in his poet, or rather
by expressing as accurately as possible the
bald homelv sentiment which is revealed IN
Bunyans generic types and blunt nomenclature
over and above Bunyans dircctness was his up
lifting sense of the divinity in man. and Mr
Stranc's designs have superaddcd this same in
doGnable grace t. the elemental structure. Us
presence is felt irresistiblv In the last ~ the
illustrations. IN the Marriage of Mercy and
Matthew" with It's almost mean ana sordid facts
Of costume and environment. Consider. hrst or
all. however in this very plate, In "Ihe Hutcher
and the sheep" or in the "Mercy at Her Work,
the veracity Of the conception. and the Key 10
Runvans as well as To Mr.. StranE's art Is per
ce!ved. Millet. more familiar to the public gem
orally than either of these, had the same gift
1t is the gift for apprehending the poetry the
God-like in the humblest Of types II Is the art
Of TRANSPORTING the peasant 10y helping the light
Of his own soul to shine through his uncouth eN-
terror. Mr.. Strang avoids his authors distinctly
symbolcal. fgurativc flights. The Apollyon In
the plate mentioned above is his sole concession
to the Gothic side of Bunyans mind and 1t IS
only in one other design, in THE Valley Of the
Shadow of Death" that a touch Of pure fancy
occurs The rest is on the solid earth Of Bum
vans world. world impossible to shake. but
adorned by a temple erected without hands
IMAGINATION Mr. Strang has, and. in the way OF
n Burns for instance. he has poetry. Like Burns
his poetry depends wholly upon the depth ana
sincerity Of his feeling. and out Of the harmony
,,bicb exists between Buuyan and himself
that score he has evolved the most satisfactory
illustrations Of TIE Pilgrims Progress II has
ever been our privilege TO see.
To understand Holland without going there l.
is necessary t. know two authors. Motley. tn
historian. and Fdmondo de- Amics. the d,ctiantc.
Light in texture as the Italians writings are
thoir usefulness t. the traveller in on" respect Is
quite unsurpassed r. dip again into The pages
Of his Holland" in The beautiful reprint
brought out in two volumes by Porter q
Coates is t. feel once more tho cool wind from
the bikes blowing across ones face. 10 be
soothed by the repose ana q1ain'nes- ~ me Low
lands De Amic.s follows The ramihcAiions =
his theme with an almost affertionate closen"ss.
Certainly he establishes downright intimacy
between his reader ana the country ho describes
Never in any Of his books Of travel WAS b" more
successful than fl his Holland" II is. as 81
deserves TO be- classic; and IN this latest Eng
l!~h edition We have it il an altogether SATISFY
ing form. Miss Zimmcrn has made ~ transia-
tion and has done her work well IN" ilh-
fishers have manufactured the book oX'cl"ntly.
and have scattered through the Two volumes an
ample number Of Photographic plates made rN-
rresslv for tn. edition by Or. Charles L. Mitchell.
These q
been chosen with unusual discretion. and me-
Chemically they are all that they should be. Th"y
enhance the interest Of a narrative which needs
no assistance. but Is nevertheless unhurt by a
pictorial accompaniment; Plates and text. put
between handsome covers make holiday book
Of which it is a pleasure to speak in terms Of
warm approval
The scheme Of Mr. Klrl Karoy's book on
"Raphacrs Madonnas and Other Great Pictures
1Macmillan & Company common ds Itself on sen
timental rather than on critical grounds once
the author has dismissed in his brief memoir the
pictures Of various kinds which employed Raph-
aers versatile brush. he attacks the madonnas
exclusively dctaching them from the symmot-
really developed life ont Of which they grew
and presenting their maker in one peculiar light
It is the light which gives on the whole. the least
insight into Raphael's amazing Individuality HIS
great decorations offer the truest index 70
his artistic character, revealing him as pre-
omnently the man Of culture and classic
ideals In his madonnas his workmanship is
equally perfect. his design is equally scientific
but his sentiment IS swcctcr. II Is Of a more DO
nestle character than In his "Sibyls or any If the
PAINTINGS in the Stanzc and the sum total II the
work means less in grandeur and purely artistic
beauty The madDnnas in other words, are
mast, rpiecos without representing Raphael at
the eliminating and most characteristic phase
If his career. This is unimportant, however. t.
the buyers II holiday gift books. who would cx-
poet in a publication like the present not art
criticism nor history. bat collection Of pleasing
pictures Such a collection Mr. Karoly gives
them. lie has secured Europe for his madonnas.
making his gallery quite complete Each repro
duction is printed on separate page. and Is
faced by data complied from authentic sources
Some Of the pictures are given in ordinary half
tones ana others in flrst-ratc photogravurcs. 1t
IS a pretty Christmas book. apropos and in good
taste throughout
Another publication which appears appropri-
ately a, this season, clothed in merits similar to