(itn) 
[Aug. ly 
- MONTHLY RETROSPECT OF THE FINE ARTS. 
(Communications and the Loanof all new Prints are requefted.) 
E have before us two numbers of a 
periodical work, in quarto, which 
cannot fail to be extremely interefting to 
the lovers of the fine Arts. It confitts of 
a Collection of Antique Gems, and con- 
tains a great variety of fubjects and heads. 
Of fimilar works in this country we poflefs 
but three of eminent merit; the Gems of 
Smith, of Worlidge, and the Duke of 
Marlborough ; Smith’s is very {carce, 
Worlidge’s coft eigiteen guineas, and the 
Marlborough Gems are not to be purchal{- 
ed; and none of theie contain any com- 
mentary to illuftrate the hitiory of the 
Fine Arts, and the gems themielves. It 
is peculiar to this elegant publication to 
have enlarged its literary depariment, and 
to prefent a variety of objects and dilcut- 
fions, illuftrated by pafiages from the 
Poets, equally pleafing to tafte, and gra- 
tifying to philofophical curiofity. We 
have been particularly pleafed wiih the in- 
troduétion to the hiftory of the Fine Arts, 
for it is founded on the beit authorities, 
and written in a popular manner. And 
it is but juitice to add, that from the Com- 
mentary we have gained fome new iniorm- 
ation. 
The firft number is ernbellithed by four 
plates. A gem of a Jupiter A®giochus, 
a fublime head; a Clio, or Mute of Hit 
tory, reading a feroll is one of the moft 
exquifite figures antiquity as left us; a 
Pfyche or Hebe with a Cupid beckoning 
to her, is the celebrated gem in the inva- 
luable colleétion of Mr. Townley, and a 
chef d’ceuvre of the graphic art. The. firft 
plate contains five fragments and Attri- 
butes of Jupiter. . mt 
The fecond Number contains the com- 
plete ftory of Cupid and Pflyche, accom- 
panied by the fame-number of piates, all 
iluftrative of this ancient and charming 
tale. The copicus commentary on the 
Romance has particularly entertained us. 
The artift, who is unknown to us, has 
performed his tafk com amore. He has 
chofen to engrave his gems in the manner 
of chalk, and not conficed himfelf merely 
to an outline. This manner has its ad- 
vantage in the general appearance of his 
prints, but we fear they lofe fomething in 
correGinefs, though we acknowledge they 
gain materially in their prefent highiy 
finithed ftyle ; but correctnefs ougiit to be 
one of the chief objeéts in thefe gems, for 
we confider them as greatly adapted to 
form the tafte of young artil’s, and the 
beft models poffible to copy from. 
We have only to add, that the whole 
work has extremely gratificd us, and no 
lover of the Fine Arts will look on it with 
indifference. Confidered with refpett to 
its literary compofiticn, its typographical 
beauty, and ifs numerous and rich embel- 
lifhments, it may be faid te be she mot 
moderate in price ever publifhed in this 
ountry. There are tu be twenty Num- 
bers, at five fhillings each ; and, we hope 
that the work will proceed with the fame 
{plencour it has commenced. \ 
The Winter’s Day, deltneated, in twelve Prints, 
engraved by Caroline Watjon ‘ 
The fuperior tafte and talent which has 
been difplaycd by the females of the pre- 
fent age, in the various cepartments of 
the Fine Arts, is univerfaliy admitted. 
To difplay an example of this, Mr. Ack. 
erman has juft publithed, price 21s. a book 
of prints, comprifing tae united powers of 
three ladies, defervedly eminent in their 
reipective walks. The deiigns, which are 
made by Maria Cofway, and engraved in 
aqua-tipt by Caroline. Warfon, are built. 
upon the poetry of Mrs. Robinfon. From 
the union of three fuch names, we expeéted 
fomething ttriking—and we have not been 
difappointed. Mrs. Robinfon’s poetry is 
before the public, and the fan@tion given 
to her talents in the rapid fale of the late 
publication of her works, is a decided 
proof of the eftimation in which her me- 
mory is held. Mrs. Cofway’s defigns, it 
muft be admitted, are often eccentric, but 
itis the eccentricity of genius, and- we 
have feen inftances where the Aas fuatched 
a grace beyond the reach of art. As to 
the engraving of Caroline Watfon, it needs 
no other eulogium than that the late Sir 
Jofhua Reynolds requefted Mefiis. Boy- 
dell would employ her to engrave his ca- 
pital picture of the Death of Cardinal Beau- 
fat. ae 
The impreffions are taken off on brown 
drawing paper, and have a very good ef- 
feé&t. To enter into a minute analyiis of 
them is not neceflary, but as each print is. 
coutrafted by cne of an oppofite tendency, 
thus dividing the twelve into fix pair, 
each of which forms a ftriking antithefis 
to its companion. We fhall add to the 
verles 
