A History of Wood Engraving. By George E. Woodberry. (Sampson
Low and Co.)—Wood engraving, if we take no account of certain mythical stories which give it an earlier origin, seems to have preceded printing by about a quarter of a century. The history of its early developments in Flanders, in Germany, in Italy, and in France is narrated in an interesting way by Mr. Woodberry, with no lack of illustration. We are then brought on to Albert Diirer and his school, a marvellous advance both in power of design and in delicacy of execution. Then begins the story of the decline of the art, a decline which may almost be said to have ended in total ex- tinction. Finally, we have the revival, with the names of Thomas Bewick and William Blake in the forefront of the movement. Of modern wood engraving, the account is necessarily brief and im- perfect; more than one name, especially of English artists that might well have been mentioned, is lacking. All that is said, howeven seems sensible and sound ; and we have a valuable account of the recent development of the art in America, a development which has produced surprisingly successful results. The author gives us some good examples by way of illustration. We may mention especially a fine portrait of Dean Stanley. He adds a useful list of works on wood engraving.
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