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PRINTS AND ETCHINGS.

The collection of Prints and Etchings is so extensive that a brief summary ofthe contents will alone be admissible. The judgment and care bestowed upon itsformation throughout a long series of years is especially evidenced by the purityand brilliancy of the impressions—mere rarity having been, in Mr. Slade’s estima-tion, a matter of secondary importance. Carrying out his intention of gatheringtogether a typical series, whilst never missing an opportunity of adding importantspecimens of the works of the great masters, he did not attempt to form a completeillustration of their works, and one or more specimens of the less importantengravers were deemed by him sufficient for the purpose.

The cost of the collection was estimated by Mr. Slade at £16,000. It contains7,806 specimens, and though some of the prints are duplicates of those alreadyin the British Museum, they are frequently much finer in state and condition. Andconsequently the exhibition can now be made to the public of many of the impor-tant examples, without infringing upon the series of any artist’s works preserved inthe Portfolios. In very many instances, however, especially in the Portraits, bothForeign and English, deficiencies have been supplied which had long beenwanting. And the large number of choice proofs of the works of the Englishengravers of the present century, which previously were inadequately represented,and had become extremely difficult to procure, form a very valuable addition tothe National collection.

THE EARLY ITALIAN SCHOOL.

Nielli ----- 9 Florentine ----- 3

Venetian - - - - 5 Paduan ----- 4

Three of the Nielli are undescribed by Duchesne. Among the other printsare comprised the rare print of The Ships, by Girolamo Mocetto, and specimens ofAndrea Mantegna, Zoan Andrea Vavassore, Giovanni Battista del Porto, and aninteresting early print, by an unknown master, of two Females seated on theground, after a supposed design by Raphael (Passavant, 34).

ROMAN SCHOOL.

The Roman series comprises forty-four engravings of Marc Antonio Raimondiand his immediate followers and pupils, thirty-one of them being by Marc Antonio

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