5 MAY 1832, Page 21

PICTURES AND ARTISTS.

• ILLUSTRATIONS OF BYRON.

As embellishments to a beautiful edition of Byron's works, designed to aid the attractions of fine typography and costly binding in producing a splendid volume, the engravings of the Byron Gallery are much to be admired; but as specimens of art, and as illustrations of the poet, we can only award them the praise of good intention. The First Part contains five plates of a size suited to bind up with any edition of the Works of Byron ; and corresponding in elegance of style as well as in cheapness with the new edition now publishing by Mr. MURRAY—for which these embellishments are especially intended. We are glad to see the venerable STOTHARD among the artists engaged on the work. He gives us a graceful design representing the old Doge Foscari about to descend the Giant's Staircase : it is well engraved by J. PORTEURY: RICHTER'S " Selim and Zuleika," and " Juan and Haidee, " are two beautiful designs, with evidences of a feeling for the poetry of the sub- ject, and of skill in art : they are engraved in FINDEN'S best style. Manfred attempting to embrace the Vision, by CORBOULD, is a clever design with a good effect ; the spirit is graceful and airy—but the artist's Manfred is not Byron's. We would rather pass by J. P. DAVIS'S " Venetian Woman in the Balcony ;" it requires no comment. The spirited enterprise of the publishers deserves to succeed ; and it will not be their fault if it does not.