A Handbook of Legendary and Mythological Art

Excerpt from A Handbook of Legendary and Mythological Art

This book, originating in my own experience of the want of some hand-book of reference, both in reading and in visiting art galleries when travelling, has been written with a threefold motive. I have endeavored to produce something that would interest and instruct my children, to whom this as well as all the labors of my life are dedicated; to acquire, for myself, a more exact knowledge of the subjects herein treated; and to make this effort to supply my own necessity the means of usefulness to others who feel the same need.

The study and research thus occasioned have accomplished the most selfish of my desires; if the others shall be realized, even imperfectly, my ambition will be satisfied.

Were I to make my acknowledgments to all the authorities which I have consulted, the book would be enlarged by some pages, but I would mention Alban Butler's "Lives of the Saints;" Didron's "Christian Iconography;" Mrs. Jameson's Works; "La Legende Dorée;" Perkins' "Tuscan and Italian Sculptors;" Miller's "Ancient Art and its Remains;" Il Perfetto Legendario;" "History of Painting in Italy," by Crowe and Cavalcaselle; Winckelmann's "History of Ancient Art among the Greeks," and Westropp's "Handbook of Archæology, - Egyptian, Greek, Roman, and Etruscan," in connection with the first portion of the book.

The legends of place have been principally drawn from German literature.

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