DOI Seite / Zitierlink:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.57409#0011
PREFACE.
A German writer has remarked that, “No man exhibits
his own character so effectually as when engaged in
pourtraying that of another.” The justice of this obser-
vation is not unfrequently exemplified in the Biographies
written by Vasari; and how charming is the character
of himself thus unconsciously revealed I It is always
pleasant to find that an author who has obtained your
attention, is deserving also of your esteem ; a book may
amuse, or may inform, but if it fail to command respect
for the writer, how serious a drawback is this on the
pleasure derived from it. To such disadvantage the
reader of Vasari will not be exposed : for he cannot but
esteem his author.
Three hundred years have now elapsed since our
distinguished critic and biographer first enriched the
world with the work before us ; and from that time to
the present his compatriots and admirers have con-
tinually employed themselves in writing Annotations,
Commentaries, or Criticisms upon it. His statements
are sometimes impugned, and his dates are not always
strictly accurate; but he has never wanted able and
zealous defenders. He may not have attained perfection,
but in him later writers have generally found their
best resources. Ou his book almost every subsequent
A German writer has remarked that, “No man exhibits
his own character so effectually as when engaged in
pourtraying that of another.” The justice of this obser-
vation is not unfrequently exemplified in the Biographies
written by Vasari; and how charming is the character
of himself thus unconsciously revealed I It is always
pleasant to find that an author who has obtained your
attention, is deserving also of your esteem ; a book may
amuse, or may inform, but if it fail to command respect
for the writer, how serious a drawback is this on the
pleasure derived from it. To such disadvantage the
reader of Vasari will not be exposed : for he cannot but
esteem his author.
Three hundred years have now elapsed since our
distinguished critic and biographer first enriched the
world with the work before us ; and from that time to
the present his compatriots and admirers have con-
tinually employed themselves in writing Annotations,
Commentaries, or Criticisms upon it. His statements
are sometimes impugned, and his dates are not always
strictly accurate; but he has never wanted able and
zealous defenders. He may not have attained perfection,
but in him later writers have generally found their
best resources. Ou his book almost every subsequent