New-York tribune., 1909-04-25
THE ANGEL OF THE ANNUNCIATI0N
(FIom a Book Of Hours designed by Cieofroy Tory,

He knew how to a brilliant and even bold
effect The printers of this volume have SIT
rounded their authors predatory matter with
some borders of TOry's in which the heaviez,
blacks are IavishIy employed But in praeti-
caly all of the other specimens that are bera
reproduced. and from their preponderance We
must assume them to be the more typical If i.
plain that Tory was nothing if not an arts. NJ
exquisite taste. You observe this not only in
the dainty charm of his line but in the 70
straint of his color. A border Of his generally
asserts itself in modest fashion, and SO does one
of his Illustrations He understood the art oy
omission Good craftsman and engraver as bs
was he never placed his dexterity in the fore
ground. Even his most luxuriant arabesaues
are charmingly tactful. they are we'll balanced
leaving the impression of a genuine typog-
rapher's Judgment. of a decorative idea kept in
proper relation to the character of a printed
page He was the first Kings Printer receiv-
ing his appointment at the hands of Francis
and surely no n IN ever better deserved royal
recognition of his 1aborS-
He repIenished the springs of French typo
graphical inspiration. which was achievement
enough for man NJ Bernard IS at great
pains to demonstrate that Tory should also be
remembered as a painter and eHgraveT, and no
one who studies the old Frenchmans pictorial
compositions can grudge him need of admira-
ton At the same time appreciation of his az
tistic gifts may be oyerdone. and it is to be re-
gretted that Mr. Ives did not in fOOtnote indi-
cate the present status of at least one point on
which his author. writing long ago. took his
stand a shade too confidently. NJ Bernard
anxious to fortify his generous conception Of
Tory as an artist urged the attribution to him
of the miniatures in two famous manuscripts
the "Commentares de Cesar and the "Tri-
ornphes de Petrarque.'' which had long been
given to one Godefroy the Batavian. ingeniousy
seeking TO show that the latter was no other
than Tory himself. CiOdefrOy persists. however.
as an independent entity. His right to the de-
signs in question was upheld by Prince DEssling
and NJ Muntz when they published their m0nu-
mental work on Petrarch. in 1902 and it is
cepted by NJ. Dimier in his study Of sixteenth
century French painting. a more recent book
The truth is that in this matter NJ Bernard vas
rather the partisan than the critic. Neverthe-
less. while the rejection Of his hypothesis re-
garding the particular designs just cited de-
prfves Tory of some important pieces, It does not
by any means destroy his claim 70 considera-
ton as an artist There is an abundance OF
work indubitably from his hand 20 show wha;
great ability he possessed. and especially u
! illustrate what We may call his habit Of mind
| After all the mission of Tory was not TO COM
pose pictures. either painted or engraved but.
with his powers Of design. 70 enhance the beauty
of the printed book He will always be one q
/ the heroes of the bibliophile. not one Of those
cherished BY the amateur of art in the stric.
/ sense of the phrase As such be receives
! noble tribute in this edition OF NJ Bernaris
/ Yea fni4S monograph.