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Sacred symbols in art

PREFACE TO THE SECOND EDITION

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In preparing the first edition the author was strongly influenced by the belief qui trop embrasse, mal étreint. She had in mind primarily the traveller, who wants his information in a nutshell, is bored by an explanation of something that explains itself, and bewildered and confused by long and learned dissertations for which he has not the time. Thus with a subject so overwhelmingly broad, and a book that to be useful must necessarily be small, it seemed best to keep rigorously to that which, in the writer’s opinion, would add the most essentially to the intelligent enjoyment and appreciation of the more famous works of Christian art—excluding the too obvious as well as the too remote.

The book has been so cordially received by students and those other than the traveller, that in this second edition a little additional matter of more general interest has been added in an appendix, whereby it is hoped that its value and usefulness will be increased. Certain suggestions courteously and helpfully extended by some of the reviewers have been included in this, and to them for their interest, the author wishes to express her warmest appreciation and thanks.

E. E. G.

New York, February, 1912.

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