Messrs. Cassell and Co. publish a series of Character Sketches
from Thaekeray. From Original Drawings by Frederick Barnard. These are six in number, and are "Colonel Newcome," "Major Pendennis," "Becky Sharp," "The Little Sister," "Major Dobbin," and" Captain Costigan." It is difficult to give these drawings the appreciation which they deserve. Thaekeray illustrated his own books, and though his sketches can hardly, we suppose, be looked upon as works of art, they yet do in a very real way illustrate. To take an instance from
the six subjects before as, no one would compare Thackeray's sketch of Beaky Sharp (" Clytemnestra" he calls it, if our memory serves) with Mr. Barnard's drawing for its artistic qualities ; yet it leaves a vivid impression of horror that the work before us does not produce. Colonel Newoome, standing under the arch in the Charterhouse in his beclesman's gown, pleases us most of these aix ; but they are all works of merit.
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