Book of the Artists. American Artist Life, comprising Biographical and
Critical Sketches of American Artists, preceded by an Historical Account of the Rise and Progress of Art in America. By Henry T.. Tuckerman. (Sampson Low.)—Although written in a lively style, and abounding in biographical details, this book is better adapted for than for continuous perusal. Mr. Tuckerman has performed a work of immense labour with intelligent appreciation and critical insight, but to English readers his book would have been more attrac- tive had he confined his attention to artists with whose names at least we are familiar on this side of the Atlantic. In the Book of the Artists- every American obtains honourable mention who has painted a picture or modelled a bust, and thus certain portions of the volume are little better than an inventory. Mr. Tuckerman is an accomplished litterateur, and has the advantage of a personal acquaintance with many living artists whose works and ways he has undertaken to depict. This gives. a vitality to the narrative, and if it may be permitted to visit men of mark for the purpose of taking notes, it must be owned that the duty has been accomplished in tho present instance with delicacy and for- bearance. On the whole, however, as we have intimated already, this book is chiefly valuable as a dictionary of American art. The reader may find here everything that he wishes to know, but he is certain also to find much that he does not care about knowing. The book in. appearance, in orthography, and in style, is genuinely American, and it is fitting that it should be so ; but for these reasons, and for others that we have named, it is less likely to be sought after in this country than in the United States.
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