PICTORIAL PERIODICALS.
The plates of the new number of the Landscape Illustrations of Byron are various and beautiful. Verona, by CaLl.corr, is the best, both as a picture and an engraving; and reminds us how few of the works of this most true and classical of our lanolscape-painters we see through the medium of engravings. Their bright and cool tone and elegant style of composition make them well suited for the purpose; and the folios of CALLCOTT must be rich in the spolia opima of the painter's peaceful campaigns. This view of Verona is as admirable for the real look of nature as for the mastery of art which it discovers. There is nothing meretricious in CALLCOTT'S works : their beauties are neither obtrusive nor lessened by affectation or eccentricity. The view, by TURNER, of the ruins of the Temple of Minerva' is surely rendered too black and heavy in the engraving. The Simplon, by GASTINEAU, and Mount Etna, by PURSER, are pleasing views. Mr. PAGE'S draw- ing of the Mosque of St. Sophia has not, we suspect, been improved by the cold mechanical effect thrown over the scene by ROBERTS. We have seen drawings by PAGE which needed no aid to their beauty: and we incline to think, that he, having seen the places, would do the views better justice in this respect than more popular artists who have not had that advantage.
The Eleventh Volume of Byron's Works is adorned with two most
beautiful vignettes by TURNER. The Bridge of Sighs has all the truth of reality in its forms, and all the charm of imagination in its fine effect of moonlight ; and the view of the Bernese Alps contains a little world of beauty in its small space. The contents of the volume are very various ; including Manfred and the Lament of Tasso—Beppo and Mazeppu—the Prophecy of .Dante and Morgante Maggiore--an Ode to Venice and to -Mr. MuaaAv—with several comic pieces, and that most pungent and savage satire the Irish Avatar. The First Volume has appeared of an illustrated monthly edition of Shakspeare's Plays and Poems, edited by VALPY from the text of Ms.. LONE; to be completed in fifteen volumes, corresponding in size and type to the works of SCOTT, BYRON, &C. It is embellished with a set of en- gravings in outline by STARLING, from the famous illustrations published by BOYDELL. The typography is neat and clear; and the text we as- sume to be correct, from the name of the editor. There is no really good set of designs for Shakspeare, and we fear there never will be; but BOYDELL'S is the best. We cannot, however, commend these outlines. They are numerous, and look neat on the tinted paper: but they are very indifferently executed. The engraver appears to be in- competent to his task. Notwithstanding the number of plates that have appeared illustrative of the Architectural Antiquities of Oxford, a cheap and popular work descriptive of the Colleges, Halls, &c. of that beautiful and interestlig city, was yet;wanted.. This desideratum is supplied by the Memorials of Ozford, edited by Dr. Iliaitam, of Trinity, and illustrated withvery neatly-executed plat, engraved by LE KEUX, after drawings by MAcictriziE—both artists of first-rate ability in architectural subjects. The letterpress is interspersed with clear and well- defined wood-cuts, exemplifying the details of various structures. The work will appear monthly, commencing with Christ Church, which will be comprised in four numbers, each containing two plates, besides cuts, and published it a shilling ; and it will form, when completed, two octavo volumes. MAcKENZIE'S drawings are cold in their exactness ; but his deficiency øf picturesque feeling is almost atoned for by the neatness and accuracy a his style.
The Third Number of MAJOR'S Cabinet Gallery evinces a decided improvement in the execution of the plates. The oft-engraved head of Gevartius by VANDYKE is as much like the picture as any other en- graving we have seen, that in the National Gallery excepted. COI.- LEY's ,cold composition of the Death of Chatham—where the death of a statesman is treated as a state ceremonial, and made subservient to the introduction of a set of portraits and a display of draperies—is well engraved as regards the general effect, and many of the heads also. A charmingly fresh and natural-looking landscape, by WasoN, composed and treated in his poetical style, is engraved with bright effect and with good feeling by HAVELL. It is the best print in the Number, to our mind.
Number Sixth of the Gallery of Portraits contains those of Bu- chanan, Fenelon, and Wren. They are faithfully and beautifully en- graved, from authentic and fine originals. This publication is a model for others of a similar class, as regards the perfect style in which it is got up.
The Court Magazine is quite royal in its embellishments this month. It contains, besides its fashions, a beautifully-engraved por- trait by COCHRAN, of Lady Sidney, a daughter of the King, after an excellent picture by MORTON; and a pretty View of Windsor, by DANIELL,—very nicely engraved, in a superior style to the usual Maga- zine plates. Lady Sidney has a look of Mrs. Jordan in her face ; the eyes have a very intelligent and pleasing expression.
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