Treasures of Art in Great Britain: Being an Account of the Chief Collections of Paintings, Drawings, Sculptures, Illuminated Mss., &c. &c, Volume 3J. Murray, 1854 - Art The set owned by Sir George Scharf, director of the National Portrait Gallery. Scharf has annotated and interleaved these pages with manuscripts and letters received, newspaper clippings, and printed pamphlets, in effect producing an unpublished corrected and enlarged second edition. In a fair copy of a letter to John Murray (1855 March 16), Scharf cites numerous errata and inaccuracies in Waagen. Scharf had access to the great historic homes and private collections of art in England and based his revisions on first-hand knowledge. Newspaper clippings record the loss, dispersal or sale of the collections originally surveyed by Waagen. Letters received from connoisseurs, collectors, and artists include Lord Cowper, Lady Louisa Egerton, Frederic George Stephens, W.A. Scott Robertson, George Redford, the Earl of Ellesmere, R.S. Holford, and Sir Charles Lock Eastlake. Printed materials include "A Catalogue of the Orleans' Italian pictures ..." (London, 1798) and the text of Scharf's paper on the paintings in the collection of the Society of Antiquaries of London (1862 Nov. 20). The first volume of the set contains a dedication to Scharf from the translator, Lady Eastlake. |
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15th century admirable Adoration adorned Albert Durer angels animated antique appears architecture artist ascribed beautiful belonging bistre border bust careful execution carefully executed Castle celebrated centre century character chiaroscuro Christ clear collection colouring composition conceived conception dark delicacy delicate drapery drawing dress Duke Earl elegant England engraving expression feeling female finest flesh-tones foreground forms Giorgione Gothic ground GUERCINO head Holbein impasto Inscribed inscription Italian Jan van Eyck John King lady landscape large picture Leonardo da Vinci light LO SPAGNA Lord male portrait manner marble master masterly miniatures minuscule letter motives Netherlandish Nicolas Poussin noble numerous ornamented painted painter Paul Veronese period pleasing poetical racter Raphael reddish remarkable Rembrandt rich right hand Rubens saints sculpture seat SIR JOSHUA specimens spirited statue style taste tion Titian transparent treatment ture Vandyck Venetian school Virgin and Child warm tone whole-length figures wide woman workmanship
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Page 217 - The same may be said of a dish, with the Feast of the Gods, from a part of the celebrated fresco painting by Raphael in the Farnesina. The Gathering of the Manna, on another dish, likewise after Raphael, exceeds in beauty, freedom, and understanding, all that I have ever before seen of this art. One dish of uncommon size has a very rich poetical composition of the Rape of Europa, though the workmanship is less delicate.
Page 3 - Peter and John healing the lame man at the Beautiful Gate of the Temple.
Page 184 - Pope Julius II. I would not mention this picture, of which there are such numerous repetitions, were it not different from all that I have seen, and extremely excellent. The features are not so large, and the genuine Italian nose, in particular, is more finely. formed. The treatment is masterly. On panel. CARLO DOLCE. — The Virgin, with the blue mantle over her head, so often met with, here taken in profile, and of great clearness and delicacy.
Page 121 - If nothing were to be seen in England but this seat, with its park and treasures of art, there would be no reason to repent the journey to this country.
Page 322 - Poussin in his youth a very great impression, which was never effaced. 33. The portraits of two children, in elegant dresses, said to be a young Duke of Parma and his Dwarf; and ascribed to Correggio. In my opinion, according to the conception, colouring, and treatment, an admirable picture by Velasquez, 36. VAN GOYEN. — A Village situated on a canal, in a warm evening light. This masterpiece of the very unequal master is in force of effect near to A.
Page 185 - Bellini, the Adoration of the Kings, a predella of very pure conception, 'and peculiar composition. Joseph, who is seated near the Virgin, appears of more importance than usual. The kings, remaining at a little distance, respectfully offer their gifts. Delicately executed...
Page 323 - MORO. — Mary Queen of England in a splendid dress. In the jewellery gold is used. The features differ from other portraits of this Queen. The delicacy of the execution, in a clear and warm tone, is worthy of Holbein.
Page 174 - Bath is the queen of all the spas in the world, for there are certainly very few which can compare with it for beauty of situation, and none for magnificence of buildings. The city rises in terraces from the banks of the Avon, which winds through the valley to the top of the Lansdowne, a pretty steep eminence, about 800 ft.
Page 137 - Italian style, which appears quite out of its place here. Three monuments by Flaxman, two of which are in the Gothic taste, prove that he was superior to most English sculptors in knowledge of the architectonic style. There is nothing extraordinary in the design ; but the workmanship is good, and there is real feeling in the heads.
Page 216 - Shakspeare was exceedingly interesting to me ; and it seems more worthy of this great poet than any that I have hitherto seen, and therefore deserving the attention of all those who have at their command the critical apparatus relative to the portraits of the poet, and the comparative examination of all the portraits.