Pre-Raphaelitism : A Bibliocritical study.

Cloth, 8vo, xix, 327 pp, ills, facs. From the preface: "This study is neither a simple enumerative nor a formal descriptive bibliography. As its title states, it is intended as a critical reference guide to the whole subject of Pre-Raphaelitism. Although the term "Bibliocritical" is unconventional, it best describes the tripartite approach employed: first, to suggest a definition of Pre-Raphaelitism which reflects the complexities involved in dealing with the movement critically; second, to reinforce this definition by examining the shifting critical attitudes toward the movement, through a survey of selected scholarship; and third, to provide an annotated check list of both primary and secondary sources, covering all aspects of literary and visual Pre-Raphaelitism. The two major divisions of the study, the Commentary and the Bibliography, are designed to complement one another rather than to stand alone as separate entities. The Bibliography is divided into four major parts and one-hundred sections. Although necessarily selective, the four parts together comprise the most complete catalogue of Pre-Raphaelite materials yet assembled. .In addition to the more conventional categories of bibliographical classification, part I contains two kinds of items with which little has previously been done: first, descriptions of those museums, art galleries, and libraries in the United Kingdom and the United States which are major repositories of Pre-Raphaelite materials, together with descriptions of the most important private collections; second, detailed lists of the principal exhibitions and sales of Pre-Raphaelite interest, as represented by the numerous catalogues which have been issued. Combined, the twenty-one sections of part I offer an inclusive summary of the available bibliographical and provenance sources of the Pre-Raphaelite Movement. Individual introductions are provided for each of the four parts and for most of the one-hundred sections. Background materials, special problems, critical evaluations, biographical facts, and other elaborative information are contained in these introductions. Nearly half the items in the Bibliography are annotated. " Very Good.…