In 1863 we find less variety in the artists and subjects, which is due to the presence of the superb series of drawings by Millais, The Parables, wherein the great illustrator touched his highest level. To call these twelve pictures masterpieces is for once to apply consistently a term often misused. For, though one ransacked the portfolios of Europe, not many sets of drawings could be found to equal, and very few to excel them. The twelve subjects appeared in the following order: The Leaven (p. 1), The Ten Virgins (p. 81), The Prodigal Son (p. 161), The Good Samaritan (p. 241), The Unjust Judge (p. 313), The Pharisee and Publican (p. 385), The Hid Treasure (p. 461), The Pearl of Great Price (p. 533), The Lost Piece of Money[1] (p. 605), The Sower (p. 677), The Unmerciful Servant (p. 749), and The Labourers in the Vineyard (p. 821). To F. Sandys two drawings are attributed; one is obviously from another hand, but Sleep (p. 589) undoubtedly marks his final appearance in this magazine. T. Morten is represented by Cousin Winnie (p. 257), Hester Durham (p. 492), The Spirit of Eld (p. 629, unsigned), a powerful composition that at first glance might almost be taken for a Sandys, and An Orphan Family's Christmas (p. 844). In Autumn Thoughts (p. 743) we have an example of J. W. North, more akin to those he contributed to the Dalziel table-books, a landscape, with a fine sense of space, despite the fact that it is enclosed by trees. John Tenniel, in The Norse Princess (p. 201) and Queen Dagmar (p. 344), finds subjects that suit him peculiarly well. The Summer Snow (p. 380), attributed to 'Christopher' Jones, is by Sir Edward Burne-Jones of course, and the final contribution of the artist to these pages. H. J. Lucas, a name rarely encountered, has one drawing, The Sangreal (p. 454). A. Boyd Houghton, in St. Elmo (p. 64), A Missionary Cheer (p. 547), and Childhood (p. 636), is showing the more mature style of his best period. G. J. Pinwell has but a single drawing, Martin Ware's Temptation (p. 573), and that not peculiarly individual; John Pettie appears with six, The Monks and the Heathen (p. 14), The Passion Flowers of Life (p. 141), a study of an old man seated in a creeper-covered porch with a child on his lap, The Night Walk over the Mill Stream (p. 185), and Not above his Business (p. 272), A Touch of Nature (p. 417), and The Negro (p. 476). To a later generation, who only know the pictures of the Royal Academician, these come as a surprise, and prove the versatility of an artist whose painting was somewhat mannered. Walter Crane's—a fine group of oriental sailors—Treasure-trove (p. 795), and J. D. Watson's six drawings are all capable and accomplished; A Pastoral (p. 32), a very elaborate composition which looks like a copy of an oil-painting, Fallen in the Night (p. 97), The Curate of Suverdsio (p. 333), The Aspen (p. 401), Rhoda (p. 520), and Olive Shand's Partner (p. 774), with the not very important Sheep and Goats wrongly attributed to Sandys, two decorated pages by John Leighton, one drawing by E. W. Cooke and five by T. Graham, complete the year's record.

The volume for 1864 is distinctly less interesting. Nevertheless it holds some fine things. Notably five Millais', including Oh! the Lark (p. 65), A Scene for a Study (p. 161), Polly (p. 248), (a baby-figure kneeling by a bed, which has been republished elsewhere more than once), The Bridal of Dandelot (p. 304), and Prince Philibert (p. 481), another very popular childish subject, a small girl with a small boy holding a toy-boat. Frederick Walker, in his illustrations to Mrs. Henry Wood's novel, Oswald Cray (pp. 32–129, 202, 286, 371, 453, 532, and 604), shows great dramatic insight, and a certain domestic charm, which has caused the otherwise not very entrancing story to linger in one's memory in a way quite disproportionate to its merits. The remaining illustrations to Oswald Cray are by R. Barnes (pp. 691, 761, 827), the same artist contributing also Grandmother's Snuff, (p. 411), A Burn Case (p. 568), A Lancashire Doxology, (p. 585), Blessed to Give (p. 641), and The Organ Fiend (p. 697). M. J. Lawless is responsible for only one subject, a study of a man and a harpsichord, The Player and the Listeners; in this case, as, on turning over the pages, you re-read a not very noteworthy poem, you find it has lingered in memory merely from its association with a picture. Arthur Hughes has a graceful design, At the Sepulchre (p. 728), which seems to have lost much in the engraving; John Tenniel is also represented by a solitary example, The Way in the Wood (p. 552); G. J. Pinwell, in five full-page drawings, A Christmas Carol (p. 30), The Cottage in the Highlands (p. 427), M'Diarmid explained (p. 504), Malachi's Cove (p. 729), and Mourning (p. 760), sustains his high level. Other subjects, animal pictures by J. Wolf, and figures and landscapes by R. P. Leitch, Florence Claxton, F. Eltze, J. W. Ehrenger, R. T. Pritchett, and W. Colomb, call for no special mention. To John Pettie is attributed a tail-piece of no importance.

M. J. LAWLESS

'GOOD WORDS'
1864, p. 168

THE PLAYER AND
THE LISTENERS

With 1865 comes a sudden cessation of interest, as seventy of the illustrations are engraved 'from photographs of oriental scenes to illustrate the editor's series of travel papers,' Eastward. This leaves room merely for pictures to the two serials. Paul Gray contributed those to Charles Kingsley's novel, Hereward, the Last of the English; but the twelve drawings are unequal, and in few show the promise which elsewhere he exhibited so fully. Robert Barnes supplies nine for the story, Alfred Hagart's Household, by Alexander Smith of City Poems fame. These, like all the artist's work, are singularly good of their kind, and show at once his great facility and his comparatively limited range of types.

In 1866, although engravings after photographs do not usurp the space to the extent they did in the previous year, they are present, and the volume, in spite of many excellent drawings, cannot compare in interest with those for 1862–64. The frontispiece, Lilies, is a most charming figure-subject by W. Small, who contributes also three others: The Old Yeomanry Weeks (p. 127), Deliverance (p. 663), a typical example of a landscape with figures in the foreground, which, in the hands of this artist, becomes something entirely distinct from the 'figure with a landscape beyond' of most others; and Carissimo (p. 736), a pair of lovers on an old stone bench, 'just beyond the Julian gate,' which seems as carefully studied as if it were intended for a painting in oils. To compare the average picture to a poem to-day, with the work of Mr. Small and many of his fellows, is not encouraging. Thirty years ago it seemed as if the draughtsman did his best to evolve a perfect representation of the subject of the verses; now one feels doubtful whether the artist does not keep on hand, to be supplied to order, a series of lovers in attitudes warranted to fit, more or less accurately, any verses by any poet. Of course for one picture issued then, a score, perhaps a hundred, are published to-day, and it might be that numerically as many really good drawings appear in the course of a year now, as then; but, while our average rarely descends to the feeblest depths of the sixties, it still more rarely comes near such work as Mr. Small's, whose method is still followed and has influenced more decidedly a larger number of draughtsmen than has that of Millais, Walker, Pinwell, or Houghton.

Studying his work at this date, you realise how very strongly he influenced the so-called 'Graphic School' which supplanted the movement we are considering in the next decade. Despite the appreciation, contemporary and retrospective, already bestowed upon his work, despite the influence—not always for good—upon the younger men, it is yet open to doubt if the genius of this remarkable artist has received adequate recognition. In a running commentary upon work of all degrees of excellence, one is struck anew with its admirably sustained power and its constantly fresh manner.