"Ex scriptis reliquis, occasione Reformationis Coloniensis tunc publicatis, plurima in oblivionem fere venerunt, nec facile hodie inveniuntur, typis licet olim excusa."—Comm. de Luther. lib. iii. sect. 27. § cvii. p. 437. Francof. 1692.
R. G.
Miscellaneous.
NOTES ON BOOKS, SALES, CATALOGUES, ETC.
The sculptures which have been preserved with comparatively little injury for upwards of six centuries on the western front of the venerable cathedral of Wells have long excited the wonder and curiosity, as well as admiration, of all who looked upon them. All have been ready to recognise in them the expression of some grand design; but it has been reserved for Professor Cockerell to penetrate, through the quaintness of the style and the dilapidations of centuries, into their noble aim and purpose, and to describe at length this "extensive but hitherto unedited commentary in living sculpture of the thirteenth century, upon our earliest dynasties, our churchmen, and religious creed." This he has done in a handsome and richly illustrated volume, lately published by Mr. Parker under the title of Iconography of the West Front of Wells Cathedral, with an Appendix on the Sculptures of other Mediæval Churches in England: and the work will be found of the highest interest, not only for its valuable illustration of this "kalender for unlearned men," which we owe to the piety and love of art of Bishop Trotman, and which Flaxman speaks of as "the earliest specimen of such magnificent and varied sculpture united in a series of sacred history that is to be found in western Europe," but also for the light it throws upon the history of art in this country. For not only have we in these pages the results of Professor Cockerell's studies of the extensive and important series of sculptures which form the immediate subject of them; but also his criticisms and remarks upon the cognate objects to be found at Exeter, Norwich, Malmesbury, Canterbury, Rochester, York, Beverley, Lichfield, Worcester, Lincoln, Gloucester, Salisbury, Peterborough, Croyland, and Bath. And who can speak with greater authority upon such points? whose opinion would be received with greater respect?
Surely Rome must have been styled the Eternal City because there is no end to the books which are published respecting it:
"For every year and month sends forth a new one;"
yet the subject never seems exhausted. Now it is a high churchman who gives a picture of this "Niobe of nations," tinted couleur de rose; now a low churchman, who talks of nothing but abominations of a deeper dye; now some classical student tells how—
"The Goth, the Christian, time, war, flood, and fire
Have dealt upon the seven hill'd city's pride;"