THE CHANCEL OF ENGLISH iliUttCHES.* MR. FRANCIS BOND has added
one more to the debts under which he has laid us, by this handsome volume dealing with the various orna- ments, altar and altar rails, reredos, piscine, sedilia, Easter sepulchre, kw., •belonging to the chancels of our English churches. It is as pro- fusely illustrated with photographs as his previous books upon screens and fonts and misericords. The artist may find the modem photograph -a very poor substitute for the old copper-plate or wood-block ; but its cheapness makes it possible to bring together for comparison a very large number of examples of the ornament under discussion, from all parts of the kingdom, and for the student this is invaluable. There must be not lees than two hundred photographs in the present volume. The historical sketches seem to be as careful as ever. Mr. Bond takes the pains to make himself acquainted with the results of modern research, which are often hidden away from the general reader in the pro- ceedings of local archaeological societies ; and he further supplies full bibliographies and indexes. Such books as this must make a valuable contribution to the growth of knowledge and taste among the general public.
Previous page
