The Story Of Dutch Painting

by Charles H. Caffin

Originally published in 1909. This volume from the Cornell University Library's print collections was scanned on an APT BookScan and converted to JPG 2000 format by Kirtas Technologies. All titles scanned cover to cover and pages may include marks notations and other marginalia present in the original volume.

288 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 2007

About the author

Charles Henry Caffin (4 June 1854 – 14 January 1918) was an Anglo-American writer and art critic, born in Sittingbourne, Kent, England. After graduating from Magdalen College, Oxford, in 1876, with a broad background in culture and aesthetics, he engaged in scholastic and theatrical work. In 1888, he married Caroline Scurfield, a British actress and writer. They had two children, daughters Donna and Freda Caffin. In 1892, he moved to the United States. He worked in the decoration department of the Chicago Exposition, and after moving to New York City in 1897, he was the art critic of Harper's Weekly, the New York Evening Post, the New York Sun (1901–04), the International Studio, and the New York American. His publications are of a popular rather than a scholarly character, but he was an important early if equivocal advocate of modern art in America. His writings were suggestive and stimulating to laymen and encouraged interest in many fields of art. One of his last books, Art for Life's Sake (1913), described his philosophy, which argued that the arts must be seen as "an integral part of life....[not] an orchid-like parasite on life" or a specialized or elite indulgence. He also argued strenuously for art education in American elementary schools and high schools and was a frequent lecturer.

Reviews

[Rex Libris · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was an ebook I found on Project Gutenberg. It discussed the lives and times of the 17th century Dutch art scene. Rembrandt, of course, is the most well-known of the bunch, but this book discussed 30+ others whose names people recall when mentioned.

The one thing that kept this from being a really great was the limited number of plates. Many, many painting were discussed, but there were about only 15 plates. Those plates that were included were only black and white. I was able to look all of the works up on the internet, but I am sad for all of the people who read this book before the web and really did not have an opportunity to see all of the works described in this book.