The large series of plates of the pictures in the
National Gallery, by the associated engravers, supports its high character and pretensions. The Fourth Part, just published, contains the head by Sir JOSHUA REYNOLDS, known as the "Banished Lord," and the "Bacchanalian Scene" by Meow Poussne, both engraved by Doo; and those two beautiful landscapes "The Marriage of Isaac and Rebecca," of Ci.e.ene, and the " Sacrifice of Abram," of GASPAR Poussne, engraved, the first by GOODALL, the sewed. by PTE. The utmost care and elaboration have been bestowed upon these engravings : they are fine epecimens of the finished line manner, and have none of that *Melly appearance we have sometimes had to complain of in the execu- tion of modern plates. No meretricious effect is aimed at, but on the contrary, a sobriety suited to the fidelity cd the copyist, and not incon... aistent with spirit and feeling. In the two plates by Doo, the character and expression of the originals are admirably preserved. In the CLAUDE, however, we miss the sunny glow that sheds a genial brightness over the lovely scene : judging from the engraving, we should have sup- posed the prevailing tone to be a cool gray. In the PoussiN, the deep glowing warmth of the picture is not successfully imitated. We should in justice add, that after looking at the engravings, we went to see the paintings themselves ; and their rich hues may have thrown the twilight beauties of the engravings into colder shade. If it be difficult to imitate with the same materials the subtle gradations of tint melting into one harmonious whole, how much more difficult, nay, how impossible, to produce the same effect in engraving.
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