NEW PRINTS.
WILKIE'S picture of " The Spanish Mother," exhibited at Somerset House two or three years since, has been engraved in the line manlier by BAIMBACH; who appears to have bestowed the utmost pains and skill to produce a faithful, spirited, and forcible translation of the painting. The subject is a young mother seated on the floor playing with her child, a fine Puck-faced urchin, who has flung his arm round her neck, and is strenuously endeavouring to pull her backwards towards him, as if he were coaxing her for a sword to match the drum that drags at his heels. The action both of the child and mother is admirably expressed ; the child's face is full-of arch playfulness, and the mild pleasure beaming in the mother's beautiful countenance makes a delightful picture of maternal endearment. The faces and costumes do not strike us as being peculiarly Spanish ; indeed the mother would pass very well for a bonnie Scotch lassie. But this matters little, except in reference to the title. The original picture was one of the most vigorous and finished efforts of Witifie's powerful pencil; and the engraving from it is highly wrought, and gives due effect to the colouring, texture, and general effect of the painting, as well as the expression and character of the design. The only objection that strikes us is a hardness in the flesh tints—a prevailing defect in modern line engravings. The two finest pictures of the historical class that WILKIE has pro- duced—namely, "John Knox Preaching," and the "Maid of Sara. gossa "—are in a very forward state under the engravers' hands.
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