LITERATURE AND ART.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXVIII, Issue 8682, 26 September 1891, Page 4 (Supplement)

LITERATURE AND ART.

The new volume of the " Dictionary of National Biography," extending from Hindmarsh to Hovenden, will be published on June 26. „ Tho Academy hears that Mr. C. P. Lucas, of the Colonial Office, author of the series entitled "The "Historical Geography ot the British Colonies," has in hand a new edition of Sir Georgo Cornewall Lewis' " Governmont of Dependencies," which has been out of "print for some years. It will bo published by the Clarendon Press. . Two new reviews are announced. One is the Welsh Review, c'.ited by Mr. Ernest Bowen Rowlands. This, although it will have special reference to Welsh matters of general interest, if will toucli on every question of importance, and, while nonpolitical, will contain political articles by writers of every shade of political thought. Mr. Edwin Arnold will publish shortly tho second series of " Modern Men" from tho ■National Observer. The series, which is twenty strong, includes such names as Do Blowitz, Mark Twain, George du Maurier, llenry Irving. Salvini, Schnadhorst, Libouchere, Tennyson, G. K. Sims, Farrar, Blaine. Walt Whitman, and George Lewis. Ouida's new book, "The Last of the Clarencieux," is designed to make a great sensation. The author has made a remarkable study of different types of Jewish character, and has portrayed their faults together with their higher traits in a manner that shows her to be free from prejudice. To the anti-Semitic especially the work is directed. Some very high prices have been reached at tho sale of 'the wonderful collection of etchings and engravings formed by Mr. Seymour Haden. Of the Albert Diirers, the " Adam and Eve," an exceptionally food impression, fetched £100; and tho "St Jerome in his Cell," £110. The same engraver's " Knight and Death" brought £77, tho "Arms with the Skull" £51, and the " Virgin with the Monkey" £40. Some of the Van Dycks fetched good prices, an impression of his own portrait being knocked down for £60, and those of Lucas Vorstermatis and F. Snyders for £50 and £40 respectively. these prices are likely to bo largely exceeded when tho Eembrandts will bo oiFji'cd. Several new pictures of importance have recently been hung at the National Gallery. In the large Venetian room are three ceiling decorations by Paul Veronese acquired from Lord Darnley. They are allegorical designs—companion pieces to the "Infidelity" previously hung in the same room. In tho little Sienese room there is a small " transfiguration" by Duccio, as well as a " Marriage of tho Virgin" by an unknown Sienese artist of a somewhat later date. A portrait by Bronzino, a winter scene by Van Goyen, a very interesting picturo of Westminster by S. Scott, and a Dutch interior by Brekelenham complete the list of recently-hung acquisitions. There is a tradition of very respectable antiquity that Shakespere died of a fever contracted through going on a drinking bout with Beti Jonson and other boon companions, but as not even teetotallers nowadays would venture to affirm that alcohol is productive of typhus or scarlatina, some other cause must be looked for to account for the -death of the great dramatist at tho comparative early age of 52. Mr. J. F. I\isbit in his new work, "The Insanity of Genius," discusses the question from an entirely new point of view, that of pathology. In the author's opinion Shakespere died of paralysis or some disease ;?kin to paralysis. The signatures to tho will, he holds, affords strong presumption to this, but he has also other facts'.to adduce in support of his theory. It is a striking proof, he considers, of the little attention that lias been paid to the medical aspect of the question that Mr. Halliwell-Phillips, who prided himself upon gathering together every fact, however slight, which might tend" to throw light upon Shakespere's life, never even mentioned Dr. Hall's medical case book, published in 1057, by James Cooke, "a practitioner in physic and chirurgery." Dr. Hail, as is well known, was Shakespere's son-in-law, and his book proves beyond doubt that nervous disease existed in Shakespere's family—a fact which Mr. Nisbit considers accounts for the short average duration of the lives of its members and the speedy extinction ot the line of Shakespere's direct descendants.