New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1888-01-21
NEW PUBLICATIONS.
. MUNTZ'S RAPHAEL.


A. C. Armstrong scn .s
1bo new edition Of Muntz's Raphael revised
So, .h. second French edition by Mr.. Walter
Armstrong, embodes the results OF rese".0
Aur,np the six years since the appearance OF 'he
Srst edition. and especially the results Oh reoenV
study of Raphaels youth The publication ia 900
Of the edition Of Grove and Cavaicaseile ih'ehu.u
60 include the latest discoveries, perhaps in''e
this revised edition desirable. At all events IL
- Is Mace Of esteem in the voluminous
ponhael literature When Passavants exhaust
I've work was published it was deemed by some
German critics that the last word had been sald'
but the careful methods of German s'udeh's'
from Rumohr to Passavant and the far less trust
worthy Waagen, have been applied rather TO the
making Of catalogues rdisonnes than inc p"lnI
Ing of picture in which the relations OF the Gen.
trail subject TO surroundings and background are
clearly shown Even the later German writer's
Springer and Grimm who followed after Passa-
want and Bode have concerned themselves more
with the descriptions and dimensions OF pictures
and questions of authenticity than with the lie
of the artist and the social aspects OF the time.
As regards certain questions of fact ana the coi-
parison and classification Of works, the herman
critics have undoubtedly contributed more TO our
stock Of knowledge than those OF any o'hcr Id"
tionality. possibly not excepting the 1a'her oi
Raphael biographers, the delightful puc i'ieN"oV
eminent value Of Passavant and, VIC may add
Bode as works of reference, and if the Renascehce
Influences arc not always made clear IN .heir
hooks there is Svmonds. with multitude OF others
A hook of reference. however Is q very OIL
ferent thing from a readable book, just as cd'd-
,ogve roisonae differs from biography acqualh'-
ino ms with the personality of the subject and the
color of his time NJ Muntz, like Grove and
CavaIcasclle has endeavorcd to present both tie
essential facts Of the better Raphael Catalogues
and the relations Of the painter decorator archi-
tect and designer TO the art and artists OF nus
neriod. This NJ Muntz has done in book which
is readable There inevitable limitations.
for the tendency of study of Raphael is more ana
more toward specialization. The multiplication
of spccial works like Pulzky on Raphaels STUDY
of Aptiouity" Gruyer's History of the lconos-
raphy of Raphaels Portraits Dumcsnls lis
tory Of the Most Celebrated italian Amateurs"
Ricot's study of the Galatea and Psyche in the
Villa Farnesina Delaborde on Raphaels engraVer
RaImonde various comparative studies OF haphaei
and Leonardo and Raphael and Michel Angelo
and variety Of others, tends TO emparr"ss ,no
general biographcr unless he proposes nothing
80 ,bon br,ef sketch of which D'Anvers and
.omo Celebrated Artists" series furnish eXam-
Mos which certainly have their use. NJ Muhtz
hos nerformed the difficult task of selection ana
assimilation in q generally satisfactory manner
Where the ground has been fully covered oy o',,-
ore his indebtedness is frankly acknowledged
Where his own extensive researches have lea MIN
70 differ from Passavant or other OF the uermah
authorities he has not hestated to marshal MS
ARGUMENTS and insist upon his conclusions. These
conclusions will sometimes occasion further con-
troversv. For example. Mr.. Armstrong is scep-
teal regarding the Apollo and Marsyas'' when
NJ Muntz recognizes. but the latters opinions de-
sorve rcsDectful consideration
NJ Muntz. who is known TO some American
readers not only the librarian OF inc
Fcore DIES Reaar Arts, but also as tne
anthor Of "The Arts at the Court OF 'he
PONIES in the Fifteenth and Sixteenth Centuries
and Of The Renascence In Italy ana France .ne
latter published since the first edition OF ths
work. has been a special student of the ltaian
Renasccnce and his biographical work Is there-
fore characterized by much breadth OF view lie
,pdc,v,rs IN present n contcmp"rnneous picture
of the cities in which Raphael lived, to sketch
The character OF artists and patrons OF the time'
and to some extent It's social life, which, now
ever might have received more attention All
This is pcrtinent and valuable, and even II the
manner is not distinguished by brllancV' anu
there is lack of fulness in some fepects NJ
Vuntzs work has the great merit OF interest,"
and considering the limitations OF space II mas
remarkable completeness. His attitude toward
his subject is not unnaturally that OF eulogist'
but ne has not failed to acknowledge Raphaers
suscentihilitv TO the influence Of others at var1-
ous stages the shortcomings OF the carrier anu
last pcriods and the injurious ehects OF over
work and of unsympathetic commissions HIS
euloqv nj times is overwrought nut IL Is hoo per
sistcntly indiscriminate. The mistake MADE Dy
some biographers Of catering to popularity ny
giving to slight personalities an undue rnpor
tanoe has been avoided. without sacrificing the
marina legend which dates from the eighteenth
conturv is briefly dismissed. and the artists reia-
tions with Margherta are indicated with conf
mendabe reserve. We have given so much at
,ention TO the new edition Of this work bcause III
its revised form it will prove helpful To that IN
creasing portion OF our reading puohc "hcn
Interests itself in art 1t is dlrcult 10 recall
another general work comprising so much ana 50
readily accessible which would he of greater use
70 the average reader, while the special student
,anpot afford to disregard NJ. Muntz's results
Whom we sneak OF what this edition comprises we
refer 10 illustrations as well as text for the Illus
tra,ons are an important addition TO the VaIue
NJ tle book There are l54 engravings IN the
text and forty-three full-page plates Some Oh
the red chalk drawings are reproduced III INC
emile by excellent Photographic processes anu
che reproductive work throughout is OF unusual
merit There are abundant foot-notes IN thls
edition. but an index has not been added al
though there is n catalogue Of RaphaePs prlnclpai
works Occasional cooouialisms occurring IN
the translation like well up in sculpture page
g. and fancy projects page 2O5' are suscept-
bile of revision and most perfect page 3, Is
an unfortunate instance of contemporary craving
for extra superlative expression lhere are lew
typographical errors but we note PREMISES
mage O. The book is well printed the clear large
type reducing the strain upon the eyes 10
minimum
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