ILLUSTRATIONS OF THE ANNUALS, No. IV. THE KEEPSAKE.
Tins annual maintains its supremacy in the beauty of its embellish- ments, which is not less owing to the perfection of the engravings than to the selection of subjects: the purity and delicacy of those bearing Mr. CHARLES HEATH'S name, and his vigilant superintendence of the ex- ecutive part of the others, while they afford gratification to the pur- chaser, are productive of profit and reputation to himself. We have two subjects from BONINOTON, both of them fine specimens of his style. The one is an illustration of some story, we presume, that is entitled "The Use of Tears," and apparently represents an old duenna sitting beside the bed of her lovely young charge, lecturing her upon some love affair. It is a beautiful composition and an effective picture ; and is ex- tremely well engraved by C. ROLLS, though we have reason to mistrust the fidelity of the expression in his engravings, and may therefore have been misled as to the story intended to be told in the plate. Landscapes are not subject to these misinterpretations, and we admire the other BONINOTON, a "Coast Scene, Cornwall," without any misgivings. The beautiful sun-light effect on the cliffs and sands is a picture of nature of which we never tire. His coast-scenes are among the most successful triumphs of his genius. " Saumur " and "Nantes," two of TURNER'S splendid compositions, finely engraved by Messrs. WALLIS and WILL- atonE, and an interior of Milan Cathedral, by PROUT, also engraved by WALLIS, are in the highest degree beautiful. Mr. EASTLAKE'S " Haidee " is a lovely personification of the poet's creation. The artist has successfully embodied the sentiment of the ideal character: the sweetness of the mouth, the fire and tenderness of the eyes, the tone of subdued feeling that pervades the beautiful countenance, do not need the picturesque costume to tell us that this is Haidee. The expression is well conveyed in the delicate and beautiful engraving of Mr. CHARLES HEATH. The plate altogether is faultless. It is indeed no small grati- fication to us to be enabled justly to praise a work of modern art without any .qualification. Mr. A. CHALON'S " Adelaide" is a clever drawing, -as all his portraits are : the attitude of the laughing little maid reminds ise of the portrait of Master Lambton, by LAWRENCE. Mr. STEPHAN- ,orr's three designs, " The Gondola," " The Knight and the Lady," and "Chacun I son gout," are clever; but we always seem to have seen /iis works before : the first is a pretty piece of effect, and the best of the three ; the last we do not quite understand. " The Orphan Boy," and "Mims," a cottage girl, by CEISTALL, are full of grace and nature, and possess sterling merit. The Orphan Boy, in particular, has an ingenuous look which interests you like a portrait, and the drawing is admirable : it is engraved with great clearness and in a beautiful style by CHARLES HEAT /1, who has also done ample justice to HOWARD'S "Swiss Pea- sant," a very tasteful composition, and a clever and effective picture. Miss SHARPE'S "Juliet " is only a young lady enacting the character; though it is praiseworthy as a picture. " The Secret," by &KIRKE, tells its story in his usual clever manner; as does the " Nestor and Ty. dides " of Mr. R. WESTALL, a classical composition of horses, chariots, and heroes. Two of Mr. COREOULD'S elegant designs for presentation and title-plates, the taste of which is beautiful, complete the sum of embellishments to the Keepsake; which, in this respect, surpasses all other competitors. This and the Landscape Annual, as regards the perfection of the Illustrations, are each of them unique of their kind.
THE AMULET.
The embellishments of this annual are not inferior to those of any other. We have not space for a notice of each individual plate; but among the most striking are " the Countess Gower and Child, from LAWRENCE," well engraved by W. FINDEN ; and Mr. WOOD'S " Or. phans," which makes an effective print. The mechanical part of the engraving, by C. ROLLS, is good, but the faces are badly rendered. We are afraid that the brethren of the burin make sad havoc of the expres- sion of the pictures they engrave. " The Corsair's Bride," by J. Hor.- LI NS ; "the Florentine," by PICKERSGILL ;," the Village Queen," by BOADEN ' • " the Legacy," by INsKIPP ; are very pretty fancy sub.. jects, wellengraved, and appropriate to an annual. COOPER'S "Crow. well at Marston Moor," is a spirited battle-piece. TURNER'S "View of Florence;" " The Resurrection," by MARTIN, a fine piece of effect; and one of Mr. BARRETT'S Sunsets, make up altogether a good and varied selection of specimens. The engravings are generally executed in the best style.
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