Dictionary of the Artists of Antiquity: Architects, Carvers, Engravers, Modellers, Painters, Sculptors, Statuaries, and Workers in Bronze, Gold, Ivory, and Silver, With Three Chronological Tables

Excerpt from Dictionary of the Artists of Antiquity: Architects, Carvers, Engravers, Modellers, Painters, Sculptors, Statuaries, and Workers in Bronze, Gold, Ivory, and Silver, With Three Chronological Tables

The reader is here presented with what has been long regarded as a great desideratum, in English literature, A Critical History of the Artists of Antiquity, by one, whose learning, acuteness, judgment, taste, and scientific acquirements are competent alike to decide questions of Classical criticism and philology, and to appreciate the recorded performances of ancient Artists, and the existing remains of ancient Art, with a noble impartiality and independence, and with a modesty and patience equalled only by the ardent zeal, and generous devotion, and in whom is happily blended the spirit of candor, which adorns the pages of a Markland, with the nice perception, which distinguishes an Elmsley, and the laborious research, which immortalises a Heyne.

Such a Work, executed in so admirable a manner, can scarcely fail to meet with proper encouragement, not only from Royal Academicians, practising Professors of Engraving, Painting, and Sculpture, the lovers of the Fine Arts, and the youthful and aspiring pupils, but also from Classical Scholars, who will find in this Dictionary the solution of many difficulties, which surround their favorite Authors in Cimmerian darkness, and arrest the reader in his career of poetic enthusiasm, or of philosophical contemplation, or of historical research, disenchanting his imaginative musings, and disharmonising his ratiocinative processes.

The Editor regrets, (a fault, which may be remedied in a future edition,) that Mr. Sillig has not noticed at greater length, and with more minute investigation, the Biography of the Ancient Artists. He admits that he has examined carefully such facts in their personal hisjories, as bear on the Fine Arts, and many particulars, which have no such reference. But in a Dictionary of this kind every incident, narrative, or fact, which antiquity has recorded, respecting each Artist, should be specified, and any questions, which are connected with them, should be examined, whether they have or have not any direct relation to the Fine Arts. And, if the Editor should be induced to reprint this Work, (as his vanity inclines him to believe, and his judgment leads him to expect,) he will use his best endeavours to supply the defect. In the mean time the reader, who has not access to more elaborate publications, can or must be content with the notices of these Artists, which appear in Dr. Lempriere's Classical Dictionary, as edited by the learned Professor Anthon in America, and reprinted by the Editor in England; but the possessors of this Work will do well to regard the performance of Mr. Sillig as an indispensable accompaniment to the other.

About the Publisher

Forgotten Books publishes hundreds of thousands of rare and classic books. Find more at www.forgottenbooks.com

This book is a reproduction of an important historical work. Forgotten Books uses state-of-the-art technology to digitally reconstruct the work, preserving the original format whilst repairing imperfections present in the aged copy. In rare cases, an imperfection in the original, such as a blemish or missing page, may be replicated in our edition. We do, however, repair the vast majority of imperfections successfully; any imperfections that remain are intentionally left to preserve the state of such historical works.