Page:Bryan's dictionary of painters and engravers, volume 5.djvu/17

 The most notable article in this Volume is that on Titian by Mr. Herbert Cook. Early in importance after this come those relating to four eminent artists who have recently died — Watts, by his old friend, Mr. M. H. Spielmann ; Whistler, by his recent biographer, Jlr. G. R. Dennis; Vereshchagin, by Mr. H. Rajanent; and Frederick Sandys, by the Editor. In each of these cases, but especially with regard to Whistler, an effort has been made to give the very fullest possible account of the artist and his v.-orks that the limits of such a dictionary as this permit. The list of Whistler's etchings is by far the most complete that has yet appeared.

There is an unusually large number of biogxaphies in the volume relating to old Italian masters whose lives in recent years have been reconstructed, and whose works have received fresh and informing attention.

In this series the contributions made by Miss Olcott as to Alvise, Bartolommeo, and Antonio Vivarini are of the first importance, and hardly second to them come the articles from the pen of Mr. R. H. Hobart Gust on the three artists of the Semino family ; the three of the Salimbeni ; the three of the Tiepolo family ; the Tressini; the two artists named Spanzotto, and Pier F. Sacchi. Miss Olcott has also written the article on Cosimo Tura, and those on the two Vanni, Lippo and Andrea.

The two Signorelli have been entrusted to Miss Maud Cruttwell, who has long made a special study of these painters, while Mr. Langton Douglas has dealt with that mysterious personality whose greatness has so recently come to light, the Sienese artist Sassetta. Solario, Salaino, and two very little-known men, Sebastiani and Trino, have fallen to the share of another member of the Gust family, Mrs. Wherry, and all that could be told respecting them she has set forth.

It has been a particular pleasure to enlist in the service of the Dictionary the eminent scholar, Herr Paul Kristeller, and the irajDortant article on Squarcione from his pen sets to rest, finally, it is hoped, some of the vain imaginings that have been current as to this so-called founder of a school.

Other Italian artists who have been treated afresh in the light of new discoveries are Sassoferrato, Bramantino, Savoldo, Tisio, Torbido, Varotari, and Vasari, who have been described by Mr. Briuton ; Leonardo da Vinci, who has been taken in hand