[Oct. 1, 
[ 264 ] 
MONTHLY RETROSPECT of the FINE ARTS. 
The Use of Nezv Prints, Coinrmmications of Articles of Intelligence^ ar^ 
requested to be sent under cover to the Care of the Publisher. 
Tie Costume of the Anclenis. By Thomas 
Hope, esq. 
F this elegant and very useful work; 
the author has published two edi¬ 
tions; one in quarto, for tlie amateur of 
splendid works; and the ocher in octavo, 
for the more humble minded reader. 
The work consists of two hundred prints, 
engraved in outline from drawings by 
the author, and fifty-three pages of de¬ 
scriptive letter-press. The utility of this 
work to artists, and real antiquaries, who 
do not confine their attention to the mo¬ 
dern antiques of monks and friars, but, 
like Mr, Hope, enlarge the science of 
Archaiology, by deep and useful re¬ 
searches into real antiquities, is self- 
evident; and mav be considered from 
the manner of its selection, and the 
mode of its composition, as standard au¬ 
thority of ancient costume. 
The prims exhibit a variety of figures, 
dresses, warlike implements, armour, ar¬ 
ticles of domestic furniture, musical in¬ 
struments, &6. compiled, selected, and 
grouped, from the invaluable and splen¬ 
did collection of Greek fictile vases, 
statues, vases, &c. belonging to the 
author. 
The drawing of the subjects exhibits 
the accuracy of a professed artist, and 
the composition manifests the feeling of 
2 . man of true taste and laborious inves¬ 
tigation. It opens liie stores of ihe mine 
cf Archaiology,in Mr. Hope’s possession, 
at a cheap rate, to the artist and anti¬ 
quary, and must prove highly useful to 
every enquirer into antique costume, 
whether for the service of the fine arts or 
tlse drama. 
Tiie pursuit cf such studies, the pro-. 
ductiop of such useful works, are highly 
hoiiourable to the mind of Mr. Hope; 
for, when men of his rank and fortune 
devote their time and talents to the im¬ 
provement of the stock of hoinan know¬ 
ledge, how much mere honour and last¬ 
ing praise- do they deserve, than in such 
pursuits as are generally followed, by the 
gay and thoughtless, of our men of for¬ 
tune ? 
A pair cf Sporting Prints, engraved in the Line 
Mannery by Scott, fom Pictures by Gilpin. 
Sporting subjects are not favourites 
with US, they exhibit too much of those 
rude exertions that characterize a half 
I' 
cultivated state of society, and encourage 
boisterous unfeeling sentiments, by no 
means congenial to the best feelings of 
the human heart. 
Their exquisite style of engraving, 
alone occasions their notice here, which 
is in the best manner of the art, and of 
such a size as makes them important 
prints. The different textures of tht 
foliage of the trees, and of the coats of 
the animals, are finely discriminated, and 
touched with a fidelity and perfection 
that is not often witnessed. 
Portrait of the Earl of Egremont, engraved hy 
Codby, from a Picture hy Thomas Phillips^ 
esq. R.A. 
This is one of the best heads that hac- 
been produced by tiie British school, 
posseEsing character, breadth, and feel¬ 
ing. The engraving, in a spirited sketchy 
manner of stippling, is excellent, and' 
faithfully copied, 
H^eoPs Gallery, engraved in Outline by Moses. 
This is a useful work, giving at a mo¬ 
derate expense the composition and 
grouping of the best of Mr. West’s pro¬ 
ductions. Beyond this merit it can 
claim none, as neither Ciiiaroscuro, or 
asrial perspective, can be given in mere 
outlines. 
Portrait of her Royal Highness the Princess 
Amelia, engraved by J. Agar, from a Mi* 
r.iature by Mrs. PAce, in the Possession of kis 
Royal Highness the Duke of Sussex. Pub^ 
lisbed by Ackerman. 
The style of this portrait, like all of 
Mrs. Mee’s, is cliaste simplicity. It is a 
faitijfui likeness of. the interesting and 
beautiful Princess Amelia, and is es- 
tiemeiy well engraved. Tlie accompa¬ 
nying decorations are beautiful and ap¬ 
propriate. 
Discovery of a Roman tessellated Pavement ay 
Signer, near PeHvorth, Sussex. 
There has not been for n'any years s» 
important a discovery of the actual slat*, 
ot the fine arts among the Romans in 
Britain, as this. The following account 
of it is by Mr. Elmes, the architect, who 
has visited the spot, and favoured u» 
with the account of it. 
“The field in which this important dis¬ 
covery is made, is the property of Mr. 
George Tapper, a respectable farmer,, 
and lies in tiie valley under Bignor hill. 
