University of Virginia Library

OPINIONS ON THE PRESS.

. . . Original Poems, stories to develop thought and principle, essays concerning Art & other subjects, are the materials which are to compose this unique addition to our periodical literature Among the poetry, there are some rare gems of poetic conception; among the prose essays, we notice "the Subject in Art" which treats of Art itself in a noble and lofty tone, with the view which he must take of "it who would, in the truest sense of the word, be an Artist," and another paper, not less interesting, on "the Purpose and Tendency of Early Italian Art" A well executed Etching in the medieval style, accompanies each number—

John Bull

. . . There are so many original and beautiful thoughts in these pages — indeed some of the poems & tales are in themselves so beautiful in spirit & form — that we have hopes of the writers, when they shall have got rid of those ghosts of mediæval art which now haunt every page. The essay "On the Mechanism of a Historical Picture" is a good practical treatise, and indicates the hand of writing which is much wanted among artists"

Morning Chronicle.

"We depart from our usual plan of noticing the periodicals under one heading, for the purpose of introducing to our readers a new aspirant for public favour, which has peculiar and uncommon claims to attention, for in design & execution it differs from all other periodicals . . . A periodical largely occupied with poetry wears an unpromising aspect to readers who have learned from experience what nonsensical stuff most fugitive Magazine Poetry is . . . . But, when they have read a few extracts which we propose to make, we think they will own that for once appearances are deceitful . . . . That the contents of this work are the productions of no common minds, the following extracts will sufficiently prove . . . . We have not space to take any specimens of the prose, but the essays on Art are conceived with an equal appreciation of its meaning & requirements. Being such, this work has our heartiest wishes for its success, but we scarcely dare to hope that it may win the popularity it deserves. The truth is that it is too good for the time. It is not material enough for the age"

Critic.

". . . It bears unquestionable evidences of true inspirations and, in fact, is so thoroughly spiritual that it is more likely to find "the fit audience though few" than to attract the multitude . . . The prose articles are much to our taste . . . We know, however, of no periodical of the time which is so genuinely poetical and artistic in its tone.

Standard of Freedom.