OXFORD.*
OxFonn has lacked any work to correspond with Willis and Clark's Architectural History of Cambridge which Mr. Valiance Las had in his mind in producing this splendid volume. The word "old" seems to be introduced into the title to excuse the omission of nineteenth-century work, such as Keble. In fact, Mr. Valiance says, "No more than three among modern architectural compositions in Oxford are alluded to in terms approaching commendation, viz., Mr. Champneys' Mansfield College, Mr. T. G. Jackson's High Street front of Brasenose, and Mr. Garnier's Tower of Christ Church." It would be absurd in a notice of this nature to write anything of the ancient glories of Oxford which are here described, but one may say of the author's general views that he delights chiefly in any architecture which can claim to be English in style. He condemns the influence of Ruskin which resulted in so much Italian Gothic being built ; he con- siders this as unnatural as the Italian Classic which it did so much to oust, and equally to be regretted. One is therefore not surprised at his dislike of the work of Street and Butterfield—the incongruity, for instance, of Balliol Chapel— but he might give them their due for revitalizing English architectural style. Even if the foundation on which they built was largely French, they added much native originality thereto. There are here many reproductions of Loggan's views, as in Willis and Clark, and of the drawings of Turner and others. With the numerous and excellent photographs these illustrations are the feature which will make the book a joy to all, whether they care for the architectural history or not. There are also careful drawings of many details of decoration, plaster work, iron work, &c. Other famous build- ings beside the colleges themselves, St. Mary's, the Divinity Schools, and the Bodleian, are, of course, included, but the Radcliffe Camera receives little notice and the Sheldonian still less. At the end are illustrated chapters upon some of the best brasses which remain and upon the College arms. Mr. Valiance and Messrs. Batsford have done well by Oxford. Here is a royal gift-book.
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