Rowe, Eleanor T. [Hrsg.]: French wood carvings from the national museums: printed in collotype from photographs specially taken from the carvings direct (3rd series): Seventeenth and eighteenth centuries (London: B. T. Batsford, 1897)

'”J""'HE First and Second Series of this work comprise Gothic and Renaissance examples
of the fifteenth and sixteenth centuries. This, the Third Series, is composed of carvings
of the seventeenth and eighteenth centuries, in the styles usually known as Louis XIV.,
Louis XV. and Louis XVI. This classification is generally admitted to be very unsatisfactory,
but it is doubtful if one would not add to the difficulties by increasing the number of styles.
A writer in the ‘ Dictionary of Architecture,’ issued by the Architectural Publication
Society, says, the only logical thing to do is to subdivide the reign of Louis XIV. into six
periods, that of Louis XV. into eight, and that of Louis XVI. into three, calling each after
the artist or the person whose influence was paramount. All I would ask the student to
bear in mind is, that in the early, middle, and late periods of Louis XIV. and Louis XV.,
distinct varieties are to be found, which should be duly noticed. On no point of French
art is there so much difference of opinion, as on the dates to be assigned to the carvings of
these reigns. Not only do experts take entirely different views, but hardly any two books agree
on the subject, except, of course, in cases that can be proved by documentary evidence. The
examples here selected have been chosen with a view to make known the carvings in our
national museums rather than to give a chronological series of the styles, which our collections
do not admit of. This, however, should in no way detract from their value to the student,
for whose further assistance a list of the books consulted will be found at the end of

the letterpress.

46 Pembroke Road, W.
December 1896.

ELEANOR ROWE.

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