18 NOVEMBER 1837, Page 15

Much has been written about the Cartoons of R %PH

%EL ; but no description that we have ever read conveys an idea of those divine works: and but few crities have been successful in ana- lyzing their transcendent qualities. The RJA of the Cartoons is an account of the seven at Hampton Court: giving a brief nar- rative of the events represented, and a minute description of each picture, with reflections of a religious character, and critical re- marks, by the Reverend R. Carraamoz.E. A deep feelities of the sentiment that pervades the designs, and a nice perception and just appreciation of their peculiar excellencies, joined to the taste and learning of a connoisseur, are the characteristics of this elegantly- written volume. It indeed contains nothing, new or profound, nor has it any evidences of the vigour and enthusiasm that one would suppose necessary to prompt a writer to enter upon a subject that has been almost exhausted : as a guide, however, to the merits of the Cartoons and the spirit of the conceptions, it will be acceptable: and in a concise firm it would be still more useful and popular. The engravings of the Cartoons, which i.lustrate have no pretensions beyond those of a key to the originals ; but thefeetrait of- RAPHAEL iS'exquisitely beautiful. The sweet and ingenuous rice, of almost feminine beauty, bespeaks -a refined nature, and intellectual power of so high an order that its exer- cise was unattended with effort or even consciousness. All is harmony and Calmness; the even balance of the mental factilties and the physical energies seems never to have known disturbance.

It is much to be regretted that there are no satisfactory engmv- ings from the Cartoons. HOLLOWAY'S are more elaborate than faithful or spirited.