Portuguese Architecture. By Walter Crum Watson. (A. Con- stable and
Co. 25s. net.)—The subject of Portuguese architecture has never before been treated as a whole. Mr. Watson does not pretend that it is of first-ritte importance. There are no buildings in the country that can be compared with the masterpieces of its neighbour, Spain. Though it was almost entirely occupied by the Moors, it has nothing like the Alhambra to show. Indeed, the Moorish relics are insignificant, though there are many traces of Moorish art. Still, the subject was well worthy of attention, and Mr. Watson has worked it thoroughly, visiting the buildings
which he describes, and employing not only an adequate technical knowledge, but showing an enthusiastic interest which will not fail to communicate itself in a measure to the reader. Naturally much of Portuguese history comes into the treatment of the country's architecture. There is something strange in the very existence of an independent kingdom which has no natural boundaries, no diversity of language (Portuguese, as Mr. Watson remarks, is more like to Castilian than Castilian is to Catalonian), and only a minor difference of race, the people being Celtic rather than Iberian, in a greater proportion, it is probable, than the other inhabitants of the peninsula. All this has a consider- able effect on the development of the national life. Mr. Watson completes his subject by treating of church plate and other accessories.
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