CURRENT LITERATURE.
Decorat ive Heraldry. By G. W. Eve. (G. Bell and Sons. 10s. 6d.) —If Mr. Eve had done no more than publish these examples of the successful treatment of heraldic devices which he has brought together from seals and monuments and furniture of the good period—that is to say, from the thirteenth to the sixteenth century—he would have deserved well of all lovers of decorative art, and he would also, one must think, have preached a lesson that could hardly be lost on modern designers. As it is, in addition to this he has endeavoured to do what is so difficult,— explain why the good things are good and the bad things are bad. To the trained eye the excellence of the best things is obvious, but if it were obvious universally there would be no bad designs. Mr. Eve points out that the old heraldic designers looked at the spaces allotted them in the spirit of a decorative artist, and filled them to the best of their power, instead of putting on decorations ready made. Again, he points out that they were frankly conventional in their fauna and flora, but at the same time aimed at representing certain qualities of the beast or tree, as litheness in the lion, and gave these with great vigour and simplicity of means. His commentary on the examples he adduces is interesting and valuable. To the treatise proper he has prefixed a chapter on the Eastern origin of heraldic forms, and a primer of heraldry which contains more detailed informa- tion than many larger books. Among the illustrations of modern work we are glad to see some coloured examples of heraldic draw- ings by the late Dom Anselm, whose energetic style is familiar to those persons who use Foster's Peerage,—why should not an edition of that admirably critical work be issued every decade? There is also! a fine book-plate by Mr. C. W. Sherborn, who remains our last line-engraver.
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