ay help us to realise the mystery of
their production, from contemporary documents: letters, contracts, and the
life by Vasari, with some few explanations that will not interest the
learned, but may help young students of the works of the great master.
Londoners have peculiar facilities for this study. The bas-relief in the
Diploma Gallery of the Royal Academy, the drawings in the British Museum,
and the unfinished and altered picture at the National Gallery, are an
excellent foundation from which to study the casts at Kensington and in
the Crystal Palace (the latter are unique in this country, but, alas! in a
poor state now). Students of to-day have one immense advantage over those
of former times in the magnificent series of photographs that have been
issued, especially those of the vault of the Sistine Chapel, which may
almost be said never to have been so well seen before.

Since this book went to press, the author has seen an antique intaglio,
No. 210 in the Estense Collection at Modena, which he is informed came
from Ferrara in 1598, representing a Leda. This confirms the view
expressed in the note on page 61, as to the genesis of the Leda by Michael
Angelo, for it is exactly similar in composition.

The author desires to express his gratitude to many friends for valuable
advice and assistance, especially to his wife for help in the
translations, and to Mr. S. Arthur Strong for kindly looking over the
proofs, and other aid; to the Earl of Leicester, of Holkham, for
permission to photograph and reproduce the Cartoon at Holkham Hall; to the
trustees of the British Museum and Mr. Sidney Colvin for facilities to
reproduce two engravings in the Print Room; to the Signori Fratelli
Alinari, Signor Anderson, Mm. Braun et Cie., and Signor Brogi, for kindly
allowing their photographs to be used in making the illustrations.

ILLUSTRATIONS

MICHAEL ANGELO
THE RAPE OF DEIANEIRA AND THE BATTLE OF THE CENTAURS
THE ANGEL AT THE SHRINE OF SAINT DOMINIC
THE MADONNA BELLA PIETA
DAVID
DAVID
SAINT MATTHEW
THE MADONNA AND CHILD, WITH THE CHILD SAINT JOHN
THE HOLY FAMILY
THE CARTOON OF PISA
MOSES
TWO OF THE UNFINISHED MARBLE STATUES IN THE GROTTO OF THE BOBOLI GARDENS,
FLORENCE
THE CREATION OF THE SUN AND MOON, AND OF THE TREES AND HERBS
CREATION OF MAN
CREATION OF MAN
THE CREATION OF EVE
THE EXPULSION
THE DELUGE
ATHLETE
ATHLETE
ATHLETE
ATHLETE
THE DELPHIC SIBYL
THE PROPHET JOEL
THE PROPHET EZEKIEL
THE PRO