Rdzsch's Outlines of Skakspeare. [JUNE, 



hel meted head of the ghost, still presiding over the scene, as he did when 

 it was a living one. In niches at either corner, kneel, on the left, the 

 bad king and his guilty companion ; and, on the right, Polonius, and his 

 sweet daughter ; while over the first couple there grins a harpy, and 

 over the last a cherub broods. The centre of the lower department is 

 occupied by the bust of Laertes. With the exception of the last-named, 

 there is a touching truth and simplicity of expression pervading all 

 these figures each different, yet each entirely appropriate which 

 makes this plate one of the most interesting and meritorious of the whole. 

 In fact, here, the artist has not been hampered with any literal duties to 

 fulfil, but has been left in a great measure to himself; and, accordingly, 

 here his own feeling of what is touching and true has been his only 

 prompter, at least as to the exact expression required. We will not 

 scruple to add, that, as an illustration of the play of Hamlet, this imagi- 

 nary addition to it, pleases and satisfies us better than any one of those 

 which are taken immediately from it. It is incomparably the best co;w- 

 ment on the play that we have ever met with. 



We would willingly have closed this paper with some remarks on the 

 peculiar nature of this almost new art, which has arisen among us, of 

 depicting objects by outlines, merely ; and of which art Retzsch is in- 

 comparably the most skilful and accomplished professor. But we have 

 already over-stepped our limits. We may say, however, that the subject 

 is one of extreme interest and curiosity, and well worthy of a strict and 

 severe examination an examination which we may, perhaps, be tempted 

 to bestow on it hereafter. In the mean time, we will just throw out the 

 inquiry, how is it that, by means of outlines, merely, an effect shall be 

 produced, in every respect similar to and correspondent with that pro- 

 duced by the most elaborate .filling up of those outlines, and the most 

 vivid and natural colouring of the whole ? We will venture to say, for 

 instance, that nothing whatever could add to the touching expression of 

 the queen, in the plate we have last-named above ; and yet the effect is 

 not that cold and solemn one which is produced by sculpture ; it is the 

 same effect not only the same in kind, but in degree which results 

 from the last perfection of the art of painting. How is this ? we repeat. 

 The answer must include an examination into some of the most wonder- 

 ful and important qualities and operations of the human mind ; for it is 

 the mind that does every thing in this case the eye merely setting its 

 powers into motion. We furnish the key to this curious inquiry, in say- 

 ing that all is the effect of the association of ideas. Z.* 



* Perhaps it is but fair to the author of this paper to say, that it has been written at a 

 distance from all books, and in the absence of all knowledge as to what may have been 

 already said, or written, on the subject of it. Should any repetitions, or coincidences, be 

 observable, this will account for their not having been either omitted or noticed. 



