A VOICE FROM THE CONGO.*
TEN moat remarkable part of this book is to be found in certain of the illustrations. These are reproductions of bronze statues of Congo natives modelled by the author. In many of them Mr. Ward shows himself to be a true artist, for added to the great realism of the form there is a sense of style and dignity which is unusual The warrior whose figure is shown in the frontispiece has that completeness of modelling and search for vital form which we associate with archaic Greek work. This may also be said of the bust of the girl which the Museum of the Luxembourg has had the wisdom to acquire. This bust is remarkably attractive in the strange- ness of its austere beauty. Quite different is the statue of the sorcerer, now in the Museum of Nantes. The demoniac energy of this dancing figure makes a strong impression, and recalls a dreadful story told by Mr. Ward of a council which sat to determine which member of the community had changed itself into a crocodile and devoured a woman of the village. While the deliberations were going on the sorcerer came dancing out of the forest and fixed the guilt on an unfortunate old woman. who at once became a victim of superstition. In this statue we seem to have concentrated the spirit of the whole incident. Quite different is the seated figure of a chief with his rugged grandeur of mass and line. Mr. Ward makes no mention of his statues, which is disappointing, for they are so interesting that we are anxious to learn something about the development of his art. This art, as far as it is possible to tell from only seeing the reproductions in this book, is full of originality and force. We wonder whether the trustees of the Chantrey Bequest have made any effort to procure an example of it. The Luxembourg, at any rate, has found it out.
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