We have just received three specimen plates of JOSEPH NASH'S
forth- coming views of the Mansiems England in the Olden Time. They are not mere sketches, but finished drawings, composed with the care and effect of complete pictures ; and realize the domestic life of "Merry -England" in what are fondly called "the good old times." They are— I. A Bay-window in Haddon Hall, Derbyshire ; with a gallant playing his lute to 0 fair lady ; the sunlight streaming through the lattice fringed with foliage, and making the oaken floor and pannelling of the old room glow with warmth and brightness. 2. The Exterior of an Old Manor-house—Ockwells, near Windsor—with its steep roof and richly- carved gables ; and a wedding procession, decked in all the quaint pageantry of the days of Queen Bess, issuing from the porch: the bride and bridegroom receiving the greetings of their friends and neighbours and the serving-men laying the tables for the feast. 3. The Hall: Wakehurst, Sussex, with a 'family party seated at table : the portraits and trophies on the walls and the figures in the midst heightening the sunny daylight aspect of space, reminds us of the effects in the pictures
of DE Hootn-us. • Passing from the subjects to the execution, we may remark the va- riety and harmony of tone and the richness and brilliancy of effect pro- duced by the skilful union of the stumping with the warm neutral tint and white lights. The feeling and taste of the artist are commensurate with his knowledge and skill.
The drawings from the pictures in the Louvre, made for the engra- vers of the )1 Its,"e ilogril to work from, are exhibiting by Messrs. I foixisox and ItAvEs, who recently purchased them, and intend to dispose of the collection complete; consisting of 160 drawings. The .illust%e Royal, it will be remembered, forms a sequel to the Mwsie Francais, nod includes the fine works added to the Gallery of the Louvre by NanonEos. The drawings are in sepia, and most elaborately wrought to a degree of perfection tlriat strikes at once by the force of the effect and the iutensity of the expression ; and as far as our memory of the originals serves us, they are copies faithful beyond the generality : the engravings will not bear comparison with them. We have not space to indulge in a detailed mention of the pictures, and therefore will not be tempted to enumerate even the cinfs-d'aware : the digni- fied loveliness and sensibility of Jane of Aragon, by RALTAEILE, and the penetrating look of Ilippolito de :Medic's, by TITIAN, however, leave a delicious sting behind.
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