Publisher's Synopsis
Excerpt from A History of Art, Vol. 1: For Classes, Art-Students, and Tourists in Europe
The learner then stands in face, not of an individual teacher, but of the criticism of art as determined by its standard authorities. To develop and form an original and independent taste is the object of the learner. To offer a firm basis for this development by the suppression of individual views and by attention to the most general principles must be the object of the teacher. On the whole, the matter of fact is the main thing. The eye can be trained only through the objects which it sees, not through theories or intel lectual process. To present the most important works of art in the most natural arrangement and let them work their own results, is the purpose of art history. To this end there is only one thing more important than abundant illustration in the hand-book itself, viz., faithful study of all the originals, casts, photographs, and copies which can be made accessible outside of it.
The specific aim of the present book has been to present such an amount and choice of illustration as have never been previously attempted in similar works, and as a class-book to present the sub ject in such a way that the use of still further illustration for the combined class will be easy and desirable. The Soule Photograph Company of Boston have made it their mission to supply, at very cheap cost, complete sets of photographic illustrations in all depart ments of art history, and a choice from their catalogue, suggested by the unillustrated notices of this book, will greatly add to its usefulness.
For the definitions of technical terms and for the pronunciation of foreign words, attention is called to the Index. Pronunciation and definition have generally been entered in the text once, but without subsequent repetition. The Index gives the page on which the pronunciation or definition may be found, as well as the usual matter for reference.
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