22 MARCH 1924, Page 22

HISTORY OF ART : Vol. III., Renaissance Art. By Elie

Faure. Translated by Walter Pach. (John Lane. 25s. net.) The enormous field which M. Faure has sought to cover in the petty compass of four volumes has driven him to compression and generalization. The difficulties of the author have left their trace on his work ; the reader must help him out. The translation, excellently though it is done, does not, of course, reduce the sense of tightness and occasional obscurity of the original, but while in the last volume (noticed at greater length in the Spectator for October 21st, 1922) M. Faure was compelled by his period to range over China, Japan, the Tropics, France, Italy, and so many other coun- tries, he is, in the latest volume, able to remain in Europe, and be, therefore, somewhat more particular. This is a great work.