MR. GORE OUSELIMY'S VIEWS IN SOUTH AMERICA.
Mr. Ouseley's large and very handsome volume is one of the most satisfactory contributions to amateur landscape art with which we are acquainted. Among the twenty-five views of his selection are many of singular magnificence and beauty, treated without either poverty or affectation—the besetting gins respectively of the amateur who copies for his subject's sake, and of him who sketches because he can sketch. The designs have been carefully and nicely executed by the lithographer, Mr. Needham ; the only failing that requires notice being in regard to force— almost universally deficient in English landscape lithographs. It would be well, too, if Mr. Ouseley had had the few figures he introduces drawn in by a practised artist A view gains vastly in point and character by a spirited rendering of the figures; which can scarcely be expected save from professional study.
The series opens with a view of Fort Loureiro, in Madeira ; followed by a hotel, formerly a convent, from the island of Teneriffe. These, and especially the latter, may almost be excepted from our observation as to want of force ; as may also be the view of Monte Video from the English Minister's garden. Five subjects from Bahia, fourteen in and near Rio de Janeiro, three of Monte Video, and two on the Parana, succeed ; and the work closes with a plan of Obliged°, showing the position of the ships in the action under Sir Charles Hotham and Admiral Trehouart.
Besides the first two views above mentioned, the moat interesting in point of art are generally those from the vicinity of Rio de Janeiro. In the "Entrance to the Harbour of Rio de Janeiro, with Sugar-loaf Rock," the noble expanse of water, broken by rocky islands and the peninsula stretching out from the base of the " Sugar-loaf," is well expressed. The Bay of Jurujuba furnishes charming materials for a design of limpid sea and sparkling splashing foam. The grand but not austere mountain beauty of the Serra dos Orgaos and Cabeca do Fraile—Organ Mountains and Friar's Head, as the isolated pinnacles of rock are named from their ap- pearance—and the Tropical luxuriance and grandeur of the waterfall of Itamaraty, are exceedingly striking; and the lover of Nature in her most impressive and picturesque aspects will be glad to gain a notion of the scenes through Mr. Ouseley's sketches.
The general atmosphere of the views is not torrid ; but the appearane.e of broad diffused sunlight is well preserved; being aided by the tinting, which is skilfully managed, and with a sound knowledge of effect.
A useful pamphlet of notes, descriptive and illustrative, accompanies the volume.
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