British Paintings at the Huntington
This detailed volume is the first catalog in 65 years of the 168 British paintings at the Huntington Library Art Collection and Botanical Gardens in San Marino, CA. All the paintings are cataloged with standard information; 123 of them also receive a fuller discussion that includes information about the artist, the painting's provenance, exhibitions at which it was shown, and technical details about its physical condition sometimes with illustrations. This is followed by information about the subject whether portrait or landscape in as full and scholarly a manner as could be desired. The entries abound with full-scale footnotes. The quality of the photographs throughout is superb, as is the scholarship. Fully and carefully indexed, the work also includes Bennett's well-written and informative essay, "The Formation of Henry E. Huntington's Collection of British Paintings." This is a splendid scholarly achievement not likely to be superseded as well as a beautifully produced volume that is a joy to use. Editor and catalogers are to be congratulated on a book that belongs in most libraries. Martin Chasin, Adult Inst., Bridgeport, CTCopyright 2002 Cahners Business Information, Inc.