Historical Portraits. By H. B. Wheatley. (G. Bell and Sons.
108. 6d.)—This volume of the " Connoisseur " series gives short accounts of the principal portrait painters who were either English or who worked in England, from Holbein to Millais. Among the miscellaneous information to be found in the book is a curious story of Midler. This painter was sent to Orford by l'epys to paint the portrait of Dr. Wallis. On one occasion Dr. Wallis asserted the truth of the warming-pan story, as to the origin of the Pretender. Kindler vehemently denied the accusa- tion, at the same time saying that he was not of the Stuart party. But he declared that every feature of the young Prince was derivable from his father and mother, each of whom had sat to him about thirty-six times. The story is recorded by Hearne. In the pictures of this historical gallery it is interesting to try to find men's characters in their faces ; sometimes the connection is obvious. But who would connect the characters of Judge Jeffreys and Claverhouse with their faces as here shown ? What differences of opinion, too, there can be about the merits of a picture ! For instance, the magnificent portrait of Lord Heathfield by Reynolds in the National Gallery was described by Constable as being "almost a history of the defence of Gibraltar," and by Mr. Ruskin as "nothing more than an English gentleman in an obstinate state of mind about keys, with an expression which I can conceive so exceedingly stout a gentleman of that age as occasionally putting on even respecting the keys of the cellaret."
Mr. Walter Crane has added another work upon decorative art to the number published of late. The scope of his book, The Bases of Design (G. Bell and Sons, 18s.), may be gathered from the genealogical tree on the title-page. The stem of this tree is
Architectural," and the two first branches are "Utility" and
"Material ; " from these spring " Conditions," ." Climatic" and "Racial," the topmost branches being "Symbolic," Graphic,", " Individual," and " Collective " design. Upon all these ramifica- tions Mr. Crane has interesting things to say. The book is filled with good illustrations, and not of so technical a character as to
be uninteresting to any except art workers. , •
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