30 JUNE 1894, Page 39

Arts and Crafts Essays. With a Preface by William Morris.

(Rivington, Percival, and Co.)—These essays are republished from the catalogues of the exhibitions of the Arts and Crafts Society. Many of them, the work of men engaged in the revival and prac- tice of the art dealt with, convey an idea of its conditions and methods that will help the lay student to a better apprecia- tion and greater interest. They are marred occasionally by a tendency to effusion or to lamentation and scolding over the evil nature of the time. It would be well if artists of all sorts pre- served a better sense of humour in this matter, for what of course is wanting to the time is great artists, ant to lecture the people who are not artists, and insiRf, that they shall make of the lec- turer and his fellows great artists, is a comic proceeding. Still more curious is the jealousy of the decorative artist against that free pictorial art which has found, it possible to create or discover beauty in the most untoward tiro mstances. This is illustrated by Mr. Morris's bou lade in the breface against the "Impres- sionists." Who or what he means by the word, he alone knows, if he ; but he announces that their programme is as definitely and consciously towards nullity and ugliness as that of the decorators is towards beauty. Ignorant misunderstanding like this is a pity between the two wings of English art ; but it need not keep us from being grateful to Mr. Morris and his followers for their efforts and successes. The revival has produced nothing as perfectly beautiful in its way, as the art of the greatest " Impressionists ; " but it has produced not a few very beautiful works.