Pictures by Sir Edwin Landseer. With Descriptions and a Bio-
graphical Sketch of the Painter. By James Dafforne. (Virtue, Spalding, and Daldy.)—Mr. Dafforne makes, as is usual with him, an interesting sketch of his subject. Landseer's art-life was indeed singularly un- eventful. He showed his peculiar power in early youth, and had no obstacles to overcome in following his bent. His father was himself an artist, not unknown in his profession, for he became an Associate- Engraver of the Royal Academy. His pictures were never refused exhibition, and never failed to find a purchaser. Noble and, before many years, Royal patrons delighted to honour him. Never had an artist a more successful and prosperous career ; and if such things can be reckoned in taking count of a life, the distinction of a public funeral was accorded to his remains, an _honour not attained by his profession more than twice or thrice in a generation. The life of such a man is little more than a record of work, but Mr. Dafforne illustrates and enlivens it by some apposite and discriminating criticism. Of work, indeed, Landseer per- formed an extraordinary quantity. More than throe hundred of his paintings and sketches were engraved, a circumstance which, com- bined with the nature of his subjects, has certainly made him the most popular of modern artists. In the volume before us we have twenty specimens of his work, most of them old favourite; which it would be surperfluous to praise. Such are "High Life" and "Low Life," " Peace " and "War," &c. "Marmozettes" is less known, and is a very pleasing little engraving. A companion volume to the above, from the same author and publisher, is Pictures by Clarkson Stanfield, RA., illustrated by thirteen engravings, among which we may select for especial notice "The Royal Yacht off Mount St. Michael," "The Entrance to Portsmouth Harbour," "The Battle of Trafalgar," and "Ischia." Both volumes are of handsome appearance as well as real value.
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