Historical Dictionary of Renaissance Art

摘要

Somebody tell me if it has already been done, but could someone from Scarecrow write a history of their reference books? Scarecrow Press books (why "Scarecrow"?) seem to have been with us for ever. While not, perhaps, the most elegant or sophisticated works in the pantheon of reference books, there does seem to be a plentiful supply of their titles on our shelves. Their functionality, subject matter, reasonable prices, or something, clearly appeals. So I welcome the appearance of another "Scarecrow", although with a 30-page chronology, 48-page introduction, and 53-page bibliography, not to mention a 462-page, A-Z dictionary sequence, I think compiler Professor Zirpolo of Rutgers University has reached the limits of the format, or been unduly indulged! In the case of the little clutch of illustrations of works of art buried in the middle of this thick volume, maybe the limits have been exceeded, since they are of poor quality, very grey, and not even referenced to, or from, the dictionary entries! A hasty last-minute bad thought, perhaps? The Renaissance, though, is a big subject, and this book is a bold attempt to cover it in a one easy-to-use volume.