New-York tribune., 1908-12-13

Conpiny
HOW TO APPRECIATE PRINTS gTS nP By frsRS s5a
Moffat. Yard Il Co
II is an old story that the eighteenth century
danced in France upon a volcano, but while 1t
danced it presented TO the world a social spec
tacIe more truly bewitching than any other In
history BY one of those strokes of good fort
une which are reserved for the artistic nations
the men and women who thus adorned Paris
Were provided with just the painters and
craftsmen qualified to perpetuate not only
their individual charm but the brilliant atmo-
sphere in which they had their being. Watteau
enveloped them in a golden haze of romance
Boucher had a trick of turning their airs and
sraces to pseudo-cIassicaI account half per-
suading the ladies and their cavaliers that there
was something in common between them and
the figures of pagan mythology. MOreau le
Jeune and a host of other illustrators portrayed
the current life sometimes with sentiment
sometimes with satire, but in either case WIN
the right fashionable accent. That indeed. was
the note with them all No matter how far the
artist let his fancy go he was faithful. in the
main. to those traits which are nseparabe from
the physiognomy of eighteenth century France,
traits of lightness and elegance These arc the
traits which have inspired the making of Mr..
RALPH Nevirs book He celebrates the gayest.
most entertaining motive in the whole wide
field explored by the collector.
1t is an unusually satisfactory little book that
he has made. Specialists will continue to make
use of half a dozen well known volumes, but for
the amateur who would take the first steps in
assembling a representative group Of French
prints this should prove invaluable guide
The first hundred pages embody a very sympa-
theticaIly written survey Of the engravers. an
Illuminating chapter on color prints and some
int fort b;l, u
to proceed inteIlgently, The other half of the
book is formed of a species of catalogue, enum-
Grating with descriptive notes. the salient
works of the masters separate division is
given to portraits The indexes make reference
easy not only to the artists and engravers, but
TO the subjects of their paintings. gouaches and
prints. Forty-nine Of the full page plates are
halftones of the finest quality. The fftieth
which is the frontspiece. is a beautiful photo
gravure after Of the delightful designs of
LAWRENCE. Altogether a model gift for the
budding print collector.
The same reader is addressed on broader
grounds. by the author of How to Appreciate
Prints" Mr.. Frank Weitenkampf as curator
of the print department Of the New York Public
Library. has had every opportunity to make ex-
haustve researches into his subject He has
knowledge as well as enthusiasm, and few pop
ular manuals marked by the good sense
which characterizes this one He has no doubt
his personal leanngs. but these are not al
lowed to govern his examination of all the
schools. Indeed he makes point of impress
ing the principle of catholicity upon his reader
Every phase of the subject is here briefly but
not superfically exhibited. Mr.. Weitenkampf
treats of etching and line engraving, mezzo-
tnts, Autographs, color prints and divers other
important matters. The size of his volume
would not permit full biographical sketches
too elaborate critical excursions, but within his
limits he manages to concentrate a surprising
quantity of substantial information. The book
is written. too, with zest. The reader should be
both instructed and stimulated. AS in Mr.
Eevins volume. there is a helpful chapter on
collecting There thirty-odd illustra-
tions excellent haf-tOnes.