New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1891-03-12
NEW PUBLICATIONS.
L'ART GOTHQCE.


f,AECHITECT1RE, LA SCULPTURE, Ia PEiN TUE
EFT LIE DECOR. Folio. y, VI hou LOUIS "oi'o'
Paris: Quantin New-iO }. W. bouloh'
Il is ONLY fitting that the century when mas
,y;,nossed the revival of Gothic art should have
nroduced the historian of its origin and medaeval
glory No more experienced and accomplished
writer could have been selected for the task
than the well-hnown Partisan art critic Louis
Gonsc. who, in addition TO his Government once
as member of the National Council OF Fine Ar's
fills the editorial chair of the "Gazette dcs BeauN
Arts" After many years Of labor and research
he has at length completed and placed before the
nubljc A volume which is triumph OF literary
and graphic art. IL embraces the art history OF
q neriod beginning with the twelfth century and
ending with tie ifccnth, and covers every
branch Of Gothic art, including civil, military
and religious architecture; painting, sculpture,
illumination of manuscripts, tapestry and stained
glass All the best authorities on the subject
have been consulted by the author, who, AS a
leading member of the Government Committee on
Historical Monuments, las investigated all the
relics of the noblcst period of Christian art. For
the word Gothic" first used by the founders
of the Italian Renaissance school TO indicate thelr
distaste for what they regarded as the barnarous
architecture of northern. medlaeval Europe, mas
long since ceased to be considered term OF re-
proach. 1t is interpreted now as indicative OF
grandeur and of imposing dignity and solemnlty.
Gothic architecture, so the author declares,
is the most refined. the most polished, ana thc
most scientific that has ever existed. Nearly
all the most famous cathcdras In France ter
many and England were erected during the COMIC
period and constitute even to this day marvels Of
constrirre-c and architectural science, Do'h
in detail and as whole. These old baSlllcaS'
he declares seem to exhale the poetry and romance
hat ipStN
can there be more impressive than the aspect of
the interior of Notre Dame. at Paris. near night
fall. when the last glinmcr of twilight finds It's
wav through the glorious stained glass windows.
md the sacred cdiicc is deserted and silent save
for the chanting of choriscrs in some distant size
chapel The cathedral. like nearly all OF the
basilicas castles and palaces of the same pcrlou'
bears the impress Of the deep and intense re-
lgious faith which prevailed in those days. before
any rcformer had arisen TO inaugurate an era
of schisn, doubt and scepticism.
NJ Gonse being Frenchman. it is only nat
ural that he should have devoted more than
ordinary attention to Gothic art in France; ana
his researches have resulted in 4 firm conviction
that Gothic art was, ard still remains, an cS-
scntjalN French art While he advances many
clever and remarkable arguments In support oil
this theory, it is exceedingly doubtful whether
the assertions upon the SupJect "liICh "lc 'o4
,oncd in his book will be permitted to pass ui-
challenged by the archaeologiSts and art experts
of Germany, England and Italy, who claim Tor
their respective countries the origin Of Gothic art
The volume is Superbly illustrated. There are
900 drawings in the text by Boulder. and repro
auctions by Lucen Magne of stained glass WIZ
dows, selected from the most important oil the
potiers Chartres and ChaOns cathcdrals. Ee-
sides these there are twenty eight fupagc plates,
comprising four ctchings, six facsimile water
colors. twelve heOgravures, two chromo-llth0-
graphs and four prototypes The cover OF the
volume is made from documentary models; the or
namcnts are derived from the Album of Willard
de Honnecourt and from the admirable brcViary
of St Louis, which are kept at the Blbhotheque
de rArsenal. The letters of the title page were
made on the very type founded by Peter Schoeher
himself the partner of Gutenberg, for the celc-
bratcd rsaltcr of 1857, the first book with GER
tain date ever printed