!37 



FINE ARTS. 



Lewis's Sketches and Drawings of the Alhambra, made during a 

 Residence in Granada, in 1833 — 4. Drawn on Stone by Hard- 

 ing, Lane, &c. London : Hodgson, Boys, and Graves — Birming- 

 ham : Everitt. 



From our knowledge of Mr. Lewis's high rank as an artist, and 

 the great admiration in which we hold many former efforts of his 

 pencil, we certainly anticipated a far richer treat in his Alhambra 

 Sketches, than the gigantic and costly volume on our table, is capa- 

 ble of affording. The style in which the drawings are made, is 

 more suited to the cold and sterile climes of Siberia or Muscovy, 

 than the luxuriant, genial, and sunny south. The landscapes are, 

 generally, little more than outlines, with large touches, we would 

 rather say dabs, of white paint, giving one the idea that there had 

 been a partial fall of snow, instead of sunlight, on the house-tops 

 and towers. JMany of the views are admirably chosen, and with 

 somewhat more of elaboration in the drawings, and effect in the 

 plates, would form very interesting representations of their grand- 

 originals ; but the Alhambra, even in these its days of humiliation* 

 and decay, can have nothing of the meagre about it, and consequent- 

 ly, is not satisfactorily delineated in these slight sketches. 



Another point we think might have been greatly amended by 

 adding a brief description of the drawings, which can now only be 

 well understood by those who are perfectly conversant with Wash- 

 ington Irving's delightful Chronicles of the Alhambra, to which 

 work, Mr. Lewis's volume forms a very pleasant illustration ; and 

 had we hitherto held the artist in less high esteem, we should 

 doubtless award to it a greater meed of praise ; but we know his 

 capabilities, and feel assured (with Goldsmith's critic,) that " the 

 pictures would have been better, if the painter had taken more 

 pains." 



The first, " View of the Alhambra from the Albaycirr," and last 

 plate, '* The Alhambra from the Darro,*' are two fine and spirited 

 sketches of the exterior. The former shows the hill of the Alham- 

 bra rising over the city of Granada, with its " tiara of proud tow- 

 ers," above which the snowy range of the Sierra Nevada is seen in 

 the distance : but the sunshine in the foreground and the white- 

 topped mountains being described by the same black sketching and 

 white spots of paint, the scene has nothing of the Spanish climate. 

 The " Pu^rta Justicia," or Gate of Justice, is a bold and masterly 

 sketch, animated by some cleverly drawn and characteristic figures, 

 and showing a beautiful glimpse of distant scenery. The following 

 plate, of a fine old Moorish arch, called " the Gate of the Vine/' 

 shows more than any other, the bad effect of the style of engraving 

 adopted, — it is an admirable representation of a deep snow. 



" View of the Sierra Nevada, and part of the Alhambra from 



January, 1836 — vol. iit., no. xiv. z 



