One Hundred Masterpieces of Sculpture. With an Introduction by G.
F. Hill. (Methuen and Co. 10s. 6d. net.)--The preface tells us that this is primarily a picture-book, and not a history of sculpture. We gratefully receive it as such. Here we can turn over the pages and enjoy a hundred chosen examples beginning with early Greek work and ending with Michelangelo. Between these poles we find some of the wonderful mediaeval statues in which French and German Cathedral sculptors appear to be more advanced than their Italian fellow-workmen. It is a mystery why with such splendid beginnings no great development succeeded like that caused by Donatello in Italy. We cannot agree with Mr. Hill when he tells us that this great artist's St. George "is simply a Tuscan youth Of chivalry and romance, of the queller of dragons and suceourer of distressed princesses, we get no glimpse." DonateIto, with the grandeur of simplicity, created the type of the heroic young soldier of all time. If the author should ever revise the illustrations of this book, he might with advantage leave out some of the classical works of which the interest is more archaeological than artistic, and put in their place some examples of Egyptian work, the beauty of which makes them worthy to be included in a "picture-book" of sculpture.
Previous page
