Illustrated Encyclopaedia of Arts and Industry of All Nations (In 2 Volumes)

Art is the practical application of knowledge to the production all things whatever that can administer to the uses of man–to the humblest necessities of the body, to the highest gratifications of the mind. The word art, then, is all-comprehensive. The elder writers, especially, make no distinctions in the application of the word art and arts. This illustrated encyclopaedia attempts to distinguish between and artist, and an artificer, or an artisan. With this wide range of the term arts, an exhibition that contains everything relating to art will be a world in little; and yet, if such an exhibition were possible, what an important and interesting study would it afford. This work has been divided into two distinct volumes. The first volume is devoted to what we have been accustomed to call the Useful arts. This includes all the processes and products that have relation to our daily sustenance. The second volume on Fine arts displays pictorial representations of Architecture, sculpture and Painting–ancient and Modern–and depicts a familiarity with the beautiful sculptures of antiquity, with the noble paintings of the great modern schools and the glorious monuments of Grecian and middle-age architecture. The union of all the art has essentially been kept in mind. These volumes are "a School of Design" of no inconsiderable value by this union of the useful and the ornamental. This encyclopaedia is the most complete Polytechnicon ever opened for public instruction and amusement. A glance at the list of contents (given in the back flap) will show how wide is the survey and how great the feast of intellectual pleasure. Illustrated with as many as 4000 sketches, this monumental work will prove an invaluable asset to the art lovers.