PICTURE PERIODICALS.
DR. BEATTIE—whose Thar in Switzerland, in which lie journeyed with BARTLETT as his fellow traveller, is still in course of publication— has broken ground in Scotland, whither A I. LOM accompanies him, to transcribe with his ready pencil scenes that can be but imperfectly noted down in words. The first quarterly part of the work, contain- ing five numbers and twenty-one views, is before us. The scenes are well chosen, and thithfully delineated ; and the subjects are judiciously varied, so that we have many of the most attractive objects in Scotland brought together. Of course the most striking features of the country are selected,—such as Ben Lomond and the Loch ; Glencroe ; the Falls of Stonebyres and Corra Lynn, on the Clyde; the Castles of Stirling and Linlithgow ; Melrose Abbey, &c. Assam is not content to give a bare portrait of the landscape or building—he often conveys an historical interest, by introducing some incident characteristic of the locality. For instance, the West Bow, Edinburgh, he has made the scene of a procession of condemned Covenanters ; in one a harvesting, in another a hunting party, in a third a skirmish, in a fourth a storm, in a fifth a party of visiters is introduced ; and the character of the place, whether wild or cultivated, homely or romantic, grand or rustic, is preserved. The effects are generally natural and pleasing, if not very striking or various. The cheapness of the work is an additional recommendation. A reissue, in monthly parts, of Sir Mutest GELL'S Pompeiana, at a price little more than a third of the first publication, is now coming out. The value and interest of this work are universally known ; and this reduction in its price will put it within the reach of many who before denied themselves its possession. This is the second work of Sir WILLIAM GELL on the same subject, supplementary to the first ; and gives the results of the excavations since 1819. A large and cheap work on Natural History, corresponding in size with Chambers's Journal, has been commenced by Captain BROWN, under the title of The Edinburgh Journal of Natural History, and of the Physical Sciences, including the Animal Kingdom of Baron CUVIER. One half sheet of each number is devoted to CUYIER'S work, and the other to popular and elementary papers on the various branches of natural history and science, including all novelties. The first numbers are illustrated by copperplate engravings of birds and quadrupeds, as specimens of the embellishments. The execution of the plate of Trogons we cannot speak in praise of ; they resemble museum speci- mens rather than living birds ; and the colouring is by no means artist-like. The animals are much better. Mr. GouLD's splendid and costly works of Ornithology, however, spoil us for any thing less perfect : besides, the extreme cheapness of the present work is to be taken into consideration.
In Part VI. of the Coast Scenery, STANFIELD shows a continued improvement. The marine views are still much the best. Calais, and Hastings from the sea, are equally true and beautiful. All the ob- jects are distinctly made out, and keep their proper place in the pic- ture; and the atmospheric effects are pleasing. The sea is in motion, and the craft buoyant. The view of Boulogne, too, is admirable.
Mumma's view of the Garden of Gethsemane, with its old pol- lard olive-trees, and Dumix's version of Mr. Csritenwoon's sketch of the arched streets of Jerusalem, arc the most interesting plates in the last number of the Landscape Illustrations of the Bible.
Previous page
