A vignette view of Verona, heading the play - of "Romeo
and Juliet" in Mr. KNIGHT'S Pictorial Edition qf Shalapere, is a remarkable example of the union of good drawing and fine cutting, shown in a beautiful, because simple and natural, effect of light and shade. The broad transparent shadow over the houses and river, relieved by the op- position of bright reflections, is rendered in the wood-engraving with a purity and delicacy as rare as it is admirable. We are accustomed to meet with firm and delicate lines, deep shadows, and bright lights, in wood-cuts ; but the shadows are too often black and opaque : in this instance, an appearance of atmosphere is given, the want of which is a principal defect in the generality of landscapes on wood. In the bal- cony scene, and that of the monument at the end of the play, we ob- serve a similar breadth of effect in the drawing ; but the cutting wants the clearness, and therefore the transparency, of the view of Verona.
A similar breadth of effect and brilliancy of tint is exhibited in the vignette of a lighted pavilion in Part IX. of la's Arabian Nights ; but the greater depth of the shadows, and the stronger contrast, do not require such delicate cutting. HAitve.v's designs, in this Part, are very elegant, and characteristic of Oriental life.
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