Oxford. Illustrated by John Fulleylove, RI., with Notes by T.
Humphrey Ward, MA. (Fine Art Society.)—The illustrations to this volume consist of thirty full-page reproductions in litho- graph of drawings by Mr. Fulleylove, and of ten smaller designs, after the same artist, incorporated in Mr. Ward's introduction. Mr. Fulleylove is a draughtsman of whom every one must speak with respect ; he had a subject admirably suited to his pencil in Oxford, and he seems to have given to it all the loving labour which it deserved. It is easy to see the high merit of the drawings which have been reproduced in this volume. And, indeed, the public had an opportunity of seeing their merits, as they were exhibited in the spring in the Fine Art Society's rooms. Yet, as they appear in this volume, they do not please as much as they should. The smaller drawings used in the introduction have been reproduced in a sufficiently satisfactory manner. But we cannot say as much for the thirty full-page illus- trations which follow them. To be quite candid, they do not do justice to the draughtsman's work. Some are better than others. The last of the thirty, " The University Boat- house," taken on a September day, when the river was nearly empty ; "The Clarendon Building," which, we are inclined to say, looks better than we ever saw it in reality (Mr. Ward, however, has a higher opinion of its merits) ; " The Latin Chapel "of Christ Church (how could Mr. Humphrey Ward allow the terrible solecism of "Christ Church College" to pass his editorial eye P- better cancel a volume than commit such an offence as call the House a College!) ; and " High Street, looking West," are favourable specimens. On the other hand, it is impossible to praise "Morton Street," "Balliol College," "High Street, with University College," —and, in short, we are obliged to say, most of tho illustrations. Mr. Humphrey Ward's introduction and notes are pleasant reading, and give some fair criticism on Oxford architecture,— the criticism of a man of taste, who can see beauty and effective- ness in more styles than one.
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