New-York tribune., 1902-12-20
FAMOUS MEN.
Brief Sketches Of Musicians, Painters
and Waa71Ors.

FAMOUS COMPOSERS. BY Nathan Haskell Dole
10 Il TTo Tboal naiupes rows Wth P9E5rats Gd pp
FAMOUS ARTISTS. By Sarah K Bolton Octave.
PIP. 423. Thomas Y. Crowell & Co.
MESSAGES OF THE MASTERS Spiritual Inter r
pretatons of Great Paintings. By Amory II.
Bradford Octave PIP. 262. T. Y. Croweli & Co.
Scenes IN the Ives of Famous Warriors ART
With % pr Wefen oT smd pp 9
240 Boston: Dana Estes & Co.
Some that are born great are constantly hav-
ing their greatness thrust upon them. In this
random group of books we have collection of
short biographies Of composers and another Of
painters; a volume that finds sermons in can
vases, and a treatment of notable fighters
through the double remove of their presentment
in paintings and in imaginative writing. At
least three of the MUSES. have assisted at each
of these undertakings. The volumes by Mr.. Dole
are illustrated not only with portraits, but with
half tone reproductions of paintings celebrat-
ing scenes more less authentic in the lives
of the musicians discussed. The sketches are
crowded with information. but brief and
tertanng1y discursive. We read of Purcell,
who, according to his gravestone. left this life
for that blessed place where only his harmony
be exceeded; of Bach, about whom the
town council of Leipsic, dissatisfied with his
direction of the homas-schule spread their
minutes the better remark that he had been a
great musician, but not schoolmaster; Schu-
bert, who in his life could quote Horace arro-
gantly; Meyerbeer, who could never tire of pol
ishing, could say 1T is finished; Schu-
mann, with his passion for strong cigars, and
Chopin, who had superstitious horror of the
number seven. Mozart. Mendessohn, Beet
hoven, Liszt and Wagner, and as many others
are also commemorated.
Somewhat more formal are the biographies of
the painters which Sarah K. Bolton has COM
posed with little recital of the history of the
times in which they lived. Most of them oc-
cupied positions of greater public Importance
aside from their work and lived in busy days.
more likely to be drawn into municipal
struggles political affiliations. and to suffer
exile. The text assemblies accounts of their
lives from sources old and modern. from Vasar
down, and includes frequent quotations from a
wide range of critics. The chapter Titan
for instance, begins with two paragraphs from
Mrs Jameson and one from Ruskin, before the
author ventures to speak considerable por-
ton of the book. were one to count lines would
be found within inverted commas But as the
purpose of the volume suggested in the preface.
is TO furnish a picture OF great men, that those
who read may be led. in the words of Hermann
Grimm, Ito think and act like them" probably
this is as natural a method could be effective.
In Illustration well printed reproductions are
given of portraits and paintings of the ten
subjects. Michael Angelo Da Vinci. Raphael.
Titan Murillo Rubens. Rembrandt. Reynolds.
Landseer and Turner
Messages from the Masters is marked by
less definite direction. The author sits IT
were, before a series Of paintings, Raphaels
'-Sistine Madonna" Murillo's Holy Family
Turner's "Old Temeraire' and others. and gives
expression to the thoughts and ethical reveries
which they suggest. 1t is not the pictures he
writes Of much the appeal they make to
"monastic mind and clustered heart" Ger
tain dogmatism is unavoidable in such writing.
though It need not imply Importance. The poets
and the Scriptures come naturally to the pen.
Each chapter has its picture in reproduction.
and the printed page is attractive, though the
unduly thick stems OF the capital letters are a
little distracting. o.
In a holiday cover OF white and gold. printed
in clear light faced type, and with fair half
tone reproductions of pictures of scenes by
Carl Pioty Jean Louis Gerome. Fritz Neu-
haus Thure de Thulstrup and others. the little
book by Walter Rowlands presents pleasing
appearance The text gathers briefly the his
toricaI facts of scenes in the campaigns OF war
riors from Alexander to Grant, with word
about the painter. and frequently bit Of
verse prose celebrating the event.