THE BYZANTINE RESEARCH AND PUBLICATION FUND.
[To THE EDITOR OF THE "SPECTATOR."] you allow me to enlist the sympathy of your readers in behalf of the Byzantine Research and Publication Fund, the subscribers to which held their first annual meeting in London about a fortnight ago ? The architecture and arts of the Byzantine Empire have not as yet received in our country the attention they deserve, though we have bad one or two admirable monographs on Byzantine churches from the hands of English scholars and architects. The subject is a very wide one, and, in spite of the valuable labours of foreign archaeologists, it is scarcely an exaggeration to say that the study is still in its infancy. Its importance, both for the elucidation of the problems of Byzantine civilisation and in determining the genesis of the Christian arts of Western Europe, is now fully recognised, and it has been felt that English students must not be behindhand in the investiga- tion of a field so rich in varied interest. A fund has therefore been started to provide means for study and publication. During the first year of its existence Mr. Harvey has been enabled to complete investigations in the churches at Salonica, investigations which were begun some time ago by Messrs. Schultz and Barnsley. These churches, which are of para- mount importance in the history of Christian archaeology, are rapidly falling into decay, and a detailed publication of them—such as that which the Byzantine Fund is under- taking—becomes daily a more urgent need. Mr. Harvey proposes to devote himself next year to the two great churches at Jerusalem and Bethlehem, where the work of Constantine can still be traced; indeed, at Bethlehem the existing building may be largely of the fourth century. Mr. George will pursue investigations at Constantinople; Mr. Traquair will study Byzantine and Frankish architecture in Greece. It need scarcely be pointed out that research and publication are expensive matters. I trust that all whe are interested in the civilisation of the Christian era will con- tribute to the fund and help to forward work that promises notable results. Subscriptions should be sent to R. Weir Schultz, Esq., 14 Gray's Inn Square.—I am, Sir, &c., GERTRUDE LOWTHIAN BELL.
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