The Bibelot (Volume 10); A Reprint of Poetry and Prose for Book Lovers, Chosen in Part from Scarce Editions and Sources Not Generally Known

This historic book may have numerous typos, missing text, images, or index. Purchasers can download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. 1904. Not illustrated. Excerpt: ... HEN, in The Bibelot for April, of Dead Florentines -- a series of Italian lyrics in large part done into English by the late John Addington Symonds -- it was, confessedly, with the title in mind of a book but recently issued, to wit: A Masque of Dead Florentines, / wherein some of Death's Choicest Pieces, and / the Great Game that he played therewith, /are fruitfully set forth. / [Motto: Fiorenza mia, ben puoi esser contenta.] / [Publishers' Device.] / By Maurice Hewlett / Pictured by J. D. Batten / J. M. Dent & Co./ -- London, / MDCCCXCV. A few months earlier, Earthwork Out of Tuscany, being Impressions and Translations of Maurice Hewlett, had been brought out by the same publishers, -- a book dismissed with scant, disparaging estimate in The Athenaeum, -- though now seen to have held within its all too few pages one induhitable little Imaginary Portrait, fit to be ranked immediately after the four elaborately finished cahinetpieces of the same name and genre by Walter Tater. This episode in the life of Botticelli (Quattrocentisteria), was recognised by one reader at least and, as an immediate result, transferred to our pages in May, 1896- As for the Masque it apparently fell still-born from the press: to the best of our knowledge and belief no criticism whatever, in any journal of note in England or America, being passed upon it.* From our personal view-point -- and tbat is all we have to offer--Mr. Hewlett's morality-play, if one chooses to call it so, is a brilliant conception, bringing together as it does, the august shades of the men and women of the Renaissance. It is in very truth a masque of death's old comedy, of which a brief analysis may not be considered unwelcome to those who now read it for the first time. The First Part opens with a...