New York: Hurd and Houghton, 1871. — 516 p.This book, originating in my own experience of the want of some hand-book of reference, both in reading and in visiting art galleries when travelling, has been written with a threefold motive. I have endeavored to produce something that would interest . and instruct my childen, to whom this as well as all the labors of my life are dedicated; to acquire, for myself, a more exact knowledge of the subjects herein treated; and to make this effort to supply my own necessity the means of usefulness to others who feel the same need.
The study and research thus occasioned have accomplished the most selfish of my desires; if the others shall be realized, even imperfectly, my ambition will be satisfied.
Were I to make my acknowledgments to all the authorities which I have consulted, the book would be enlarged by some pages, but I would mention Alban Butler's "Lives of the Saints"; Didron's "Christian Iconography"; Mrs. Jameson's Works; "La Legende Dore"; Perkins' "Tuscan and Italian Sculptors"; Miller's "Ancient Art and its Eemains"; "II Perfetto Legendario"; "History of Painting in Italy" by Crowe and Cavalcaselle; Winckelmann's "History of Ancient Art among the Greeks" and Westropp's "Handbook of Archaeology, — Egyptian, Greek, Roman, and Etruscan" in connection with the first portion of the book.
The legends of place have been principally drawn from German literature. Most of the English translations of these legends that come within the reach of travellers, are the work of Germans, and so imperfectly rendered, that a knowledge of their own language is almost necessary in order to comprehend their English.
The mythological portion embraces all subjects of that character which are illustrated in painting or sculpture in the galleries of Rome, Florence, the Louvre, Munich, Vienna, Dresden, and Berlin.
The illustrations are intended as a key or guide in the consideration of their subjects. I would call attention to the frontispiece as being the first example, so far as I am able to learn, of an American picture in any work connected with art.
The elegance of the book has been subordinated to the desire to make it compact and convenient as a hand-book in travelling; this being a purpose for which it was especially written.
