NOTICES OF BOOKS.

Evening Star, Issue 3263, 5 August 1873, Page 3

NOTICES OF BOOKS.

The AH of Illuminating, as practised in Europe from the earliest times. Day and Son, London, Heith and Wilkie, Dunedin. Now that Art is so much cultivated amongst us, every branch has its peculiar interest. Painting, engraving, and photo grapby have put us in possession of copies of the finest efforts of genius, and many of the ephemeral writings of the day are illustrated with such skill that the face and figure of Kate Nickleby or Bella vVilmer are as familiar to readers of Dickens’s works asthe features of her Majesty to her subjects But beautiful as arc many of the plates tha adorn our cheapest literature, they are sur passed in elaborateness of design by the illuminated volumes of past ages. When books were scarce and valuable, they were thought worthy of ornamentation by ykdled artists. Knight says that eight oj nine hundred years ago there was it England and Ireland a School of Art “ which has left some very remark able proofs of excellence, and, indeed, o originality, in a humble walk of pictori:> labor. The illuminated letters of j the Anglo-Saxon manuscripts are wholly dif-

ferent from those of any Continental school, and they display a gracefulness of ornament, and power of invention which may be profitably studied in these our own times, when ornamental design in connection with manufactures is escaping from the monotonous barbarism which has so long marked us in such matters as a tasteless and unimaginative people. The chief features of tins species of illumination are described by Sir F. Madden to be extreme intricacy of pattern, interlacing of knots in a diagonal or .square form, sometimes interwoven with animals, and terminating in head of serpents or birds.’ ” This art was not thought beneath practising by High Church dignitaries, but formed “ a delightful occupation to the more skilful in the monastic establishments. Eadfrid, Hishop of Lindisfarne in the eighth century, showed his artistic talent in illustrating ’ The Durham Book and St Dunstan varied his austerities and ambition by illustrating manuscripts.” The work in possession of Messrs Keith and Wilkie contains copies of the most striking of these beautiful artistic • designs collected from different schools through several centuries. The book itself, as an artistic production, is a stud}' in binding, quality of paper, typography, and illustration ; and, moreover, it contains an exhaustive history of the art of illumination, with very admirable rules to be observed in practising it. It will well repay inspection, and is invaluable to a decorator.

An Historical Atlas of Ancient Gcor/rnpJn /, Biblical and Classical, compiled under the superintendence of Dr Smith and Mr Grove; John Murray, _ Albemarle street, London; Rcith and Wilkie, Dunedin.

In these days, when accuracy of information is required of every schoolboy, this atlas must prove of signal service ; and if those of mature years desire to maintain the position their age entitles themtointhemiuds of the young, they will find it equally useful. 'The first part which we have before us contains eight large-sized maps, with copious in dees of the Holy Laud at different periods of its history, of the Greek and Phoenician Colonies, of Greece and Home, or rather Italy, at those well-defined epochs when the boundaries of territory were disturbed. Those who have felt the sense of vagueness when reading of different places, or of the same place under different conditions in the works of ancient authors, will well understand the aid that this valuable atlas will be to clearness of perception of the text. The maps are well executed, and contain standards of measurement by which to compare ancient with modern estimates of distance. To Bible students, as well as classical readers, they will prove most valuable.