Note 7 — AUTHOR’S PREFACE (1851)

The most recent, and among the most interesting authorities for Urbino, is Passavant's Life of Raffaele, an admirable article upon which by Sir C.L. Eastlake, in vol. LXVI. of the Quarterly Review, suggested the present work. Had that biography been accessible to me at an earlier period, it might have assisted my labours, and perhaps modified some of my views; but I had no opportunity of consulting it until my own pages were nearly ready for press. It is the fruit of successful German industry, sweetened by candid and intelligent criticism, and its remaining still untranslated into any language is among the remarkable anomalies of literary history. I may be allowed here to mention that the accuracy and success with which Lord Lindsay and Mrs. Jameson have cultivated the field of Christian and legendary art, enable me to dispense with much regarding a subject which would otherwise have been more prominent in these volumes.