A society has been in operation these two years for
encouraging the study of a very beautiful art of old times—that of illuminating manu- scripts. For some years it has been evident that the public taste for decoration has been shown very decidedly in favour of costly and splen- did books, both as to typography and binding. Some exquisite repro- ductions in the old style by Mr. Owen Jones will be remembered, and, in fact, the style has been carried into many branches of the ornamental book.trade with various degrees of merit. The British Museum, as is well known, contains a rare collection of the finest examples of minia- ture painting and arabesque of the most beautiful kind ; the Bodleian library is also extremely rich in choice specimens; so that abundance of models are at hand without going to the treasures of the Vatican. The society we speak of follows somewhat the principle of the art unions, in presenting every member annually with a specimen of modern missal painting, done by those members who chose to employ their talents in thus earning an independent and very honourable living. The subjects of these presentation copies are taken from the prize of the year, which is competed for openly. This year, there are six original specimens of a page of the beatitudes, each in a style chosen and designed by the artist ; ceniment of the judges, Mr. Owen Jones, Mr. Digby Wyatt, and Mr. Noel at least, three of these are admirably done, and it will probably tax the dis- Humphreys, to award the prize of ten guineas. The room of the Society in Bernens Street is hung with many excellent specimens of work by the members, amongst whom are many ladies, and several distinguished amateurs of the aristocracy ; but as the names are not appended to them, we are unable to particularize the most successful students. M. de Lara appears to be a complete master of the art, and, we understand, superintends the studies of the members. It would be impossible to say too much in encouragement of a practice which would afford so con- genial and interesting an occupation, at a time when profitable employ- ment for young women is so warmly advocated.
The prize awarded by the Society will, we hear, be presented at a soiree, to be arranged shortly for the purpose, at the South Kensington Museum.'
Previous page
