An anthology called The Madonna, a handsome volume Published by
Longmans at 18s. has been. compiled by Sir James Marchant. .A studious introduction- on. Tile Madonna in Art• is contributed by Sir Charles Holmes, and the book is-adorned with reproductions of famous pictures and photo- graphs of sculpture. The anthology is mote theological than ecstatic ; and a reverent piety insists- en the gentler, simpler aspects of the Madonna story rather than on the mysterious and romantic dreams that have gathered round her figure, There is no Leonardo and little Botticelli in the iconography and, though there are many quotations from the saints an4 fathers among her praises here, she is rarely considered as the Tower of Ivory and the Mystical Rose. That crystalline carol, " I sing of a maiden," however, is not missing. Milton'] Nativity Ode is badly mangled ; and some of Jacopone da Todi's verse is too sedately translated. There are, of course; omissions one regrets ; but it is better to be thankful for some unusual things presented. Such are, among the illustrations; the Virgin and Child roundel from the Bishop's Palace at Chichester, Gentilesehi's eloquent " Annunciation," and Enguerrand Charenton's lovely " Coronation." Among the poems also are things too little known, by R. S. Hawker; Aubrey de Vere, Gerald M. Hopkins, and Ma'y Coleridge, Crashaw is well represented : his peculiar note does not recur till Francis Thompson's elaborate descant begins. It iff interesting to observe how much more intimate is Christinp Rossetti than Elizabeth Browning. Most of the very modern contributions sound artificial ; the most sincere are a song by Chesterton and a verse from Kipling.
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