ILLUSTRATIONS OF THE ANNUALS.
MR. PROIIT, who commenced, if he did not originate, the Landscape Annual,—the first two volumes of that work being illustrated by him,— Las this year to compete with two rivals, STANFIELD anti liannxxo, whose productions we have noticed. Mr. PKOUT takes for the title of his publication The Continental Anneal; it might with propriety have been called the " Architectural," in contradistinction to the " Land- scape Annual ; " for its embellishments consist entirely of views of cities, public buildings, street scenes, &c. The genius of S.AIIVEL Pour delights to dwell among the narrow streets, lofty houses, and quaint architecture of the old German cities, and under the conical shingle roofs of the little towns on the Rhine. In the delineation of these scenes, the boldness and simplicity of his style are shown to advantage ; and his pencil, with its broad touches, seems to follow the crumbling track of Time's finger.
The titlepage is one of the gems of the collection ; and represents a Roman column near Treves, at which place is a remarkable Roman ruin—a palace-like edifice, called the " Porta Nigra," which is given with great force and truth. The lofty and graceful tower of Antwerp Cathedral, with its Gothic tracery and pinnacled spire, rising from among the high, flat-fronted, many windowed houses, with their gable- roofs—and this canal-scene at Ghent, the architecture of whose houses is of similar character—afford us a peep at the towns of Holland. Then follow a street-scene in Nuremburg, with its ornamented houses and outside blinds. The Bridge at Prague, with its statues, and the steep- roofed buildings of the city seen above it. Part of the Church of St. Pierre, at Caen, with its strange medley of architecture- " Place St. Antoine, Padua ;" with a sort of cross in the centre, and the houses with colonnade-fronts and balconies, looking very picturesque. The Port of Como. The Tower of Rouen Cathedral, rising above the old-fashioned houses around ; a characteristic scene. Some picturesque old houses at Metz, with the cathedral overtopping them. The Hotel de Ville at Brussels; and Dresden with its domes, spires, and palaces, and the fine old substantial bridge, reminding us of ours at Westminster, except that its piers are like towers—this is a magnificent scene, and the most splendid picture of the set. Such are the subjects of the plates to this Annual ; which is published at two-thirds of the price of its compe- titors. The plates are fewer in number, but of the same size, and of equal merit. The unpretending quality of PROUT'S style makes it diffi- cult to do justice to it by description ; but its solid excellences will be appreciated in the plates of the Continental Annual. The engravings are universally clear, firm, and of first-rate excellence.
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