THE KEEPSAKE PLATES.
THE embellishments—illustrations we cannot term them—of The Keepsake, are no exception to our remark on the altered character of the Annuals. They consist of three couple of designs by Iimult•ab F. P. STEPHANOFF, and EDWARD CORBOULD; besides a portritit of a lady bythiAsoe, floating in an atmosphere of muslin, like the moon In a silvery cloud ; and some " beauties" in costume, by NI eanows and JF.NKINS, the two newest furnishers of fancy figures. Hemmer, like the rest of his brethren, has one model that selves for all his women, as well as one style of treating every subject. One of his " designs " another Phase of his " Othello and Desdetnona"—the bull-necked M or with his goggle eyes will be immediately recognized ; the other —a female captive feigning madness—tells the story well, fur the lady seems to feign. HERBERT has promising talent in design, and under- stands his art well; but he has a tendency to choose subjects of a mor- bid and violent description, in preference to those of a pleasing and healthful character ; and he is apt to mistake disagreeableness for power. The designs of F. P. STEPHANOFF arc firmikin and courtly; those of EDWARD CORBOULD—son of the well.known book•plate de. signer--are of the melodramatic kind, but clever of the sort. The impression left by turning over the plates is, that a certain nunmber 0
pretty pictures being necessary, certain artists have been called upon to supply some attractive figures and groups in tasteful costumes, with a dash of easel sentiment for the nonce. And very well they have exe- cuted their commissions. But this is not the way to advance art, either by improving the painters or refining the public taste. Without definite meaning and genuine feeling, the finest picture is but an eye- trap.
Ihe engravings of the plates have a degree of depth, richness, and finish, that we find in no other Annual in equal perfection. Those by H. ROBINSON and STODART are particularly fine. -
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