The Prado and its masterpieces

Front matter

Sr

This Edition ts limited to 350 Copies for sale, of which 50 are for sale in America

Wore UO) ae

Preface

On completing this volume I became aware of much that might have been planned or said differently; but being unable to recall a time when I did not find the looking at pictures a most agreeable occupation, I have striven to convey the impressions I have felt in contact with the works of the masters, and I have left archeeology to the archeologists. If I have ventured into fields in which a wide knowledge of pictures and their technique and a good visual memory are not sufficient to support me, I would plead that my opinion is but that of a single separate person, and beg the reader to turn to the beautiful plates.

With regard to these, it is a subject of regret that expediency has necessitated the absence of some illustrations. Conditions of lighting have rendered impossible the inclusion of Titian’s ‘Prometheus,’ for instance. Difficulties of reproduction have led to the omission of ‘Charles v. in White,’ and the little-known portrait of a pale and wistful-looking man (481), also by Titian. Two or three plates have replaced pictures at first selected for reproduction: it has at times been difficult to strike the balance between the interest of novelty and the necessary inclusion of some famous work.

CHARLES RICKETTS.

BALTASAR CARLOS.

GARDENS OF THE VILLA MEDICI

CON TE NaS

PREFACE.

CHAP.

I. THE CONTENTS OF THE PRADO.

PAGE

The character of the Prado as a collection: Its wealth in pictures of the sixteenth and seventeenth centuries: Titian, Rubens, Velasquez, and Van Dyck: Diirer and Holbein: Poussin and Watteau: The over-cleaning of some of the works, notably those by Velasquez, . I

Il. THE SPANISH SCHOOL BEFORE VELASQUEZ.

The secondary and derivative character of Spanish art seen as a whole: El Greco, his position in relation to the masters, and a definition of Decadence: Ribera: Zurbaran, his authorship of the ‘Dead Knight’ in the National Gallery; the Spanish character of his art, . ~° . 20

6 x

CHAP.

Ill.

VI.

VII.

VIII.