LETTERS ON CONNOISSEURSHIP, OR THE ANATOMY OF A PICTURE

WILKINS, William Noy. LETTERS ON CONNOISSEURSHIP, OR THE ANATOMY OF A PICTURE. London: Chapman and Hall, 1857. 8vo. Publisher's brown embossed cloth. Frontispiece, viii, 108 pages. First edition. Subtitled: "With some remarks on National Galleries, and the Mission of the Modern Artist." Wilkins was born in Dublin in 1820, and these letters are dedicated to the Lord Chancellor of Ireland. One section concentrates on the ideal distances to hang paintings in a gallery, so as to provide the viewer w the best line of sight: "many of the late John Martin's works were rendered ineffective by having been executed with the touch and detail of a cabinet work..." Another section deals with lighting galleries, frames, and hanging works. An interesting section deals with national galleries and the suggesti that "there should be at least one-half of our collections devoted to modern pictures, historical as well as landscapes; works that would reflect the feelings and wants of the nineteenth century..." Expertly rebacked, corner bumped, else very good. Scarce.