N the unique plan of COSMO COLLECTION there is brought together, in form suitable for ready reference, reproductions of the most important masterpieces in art, portraits of people of permanent fame, their homes, and historic places associated with them; great cathedrals, and ruins, and the most celebrated examples of sculpture.

It goes still further and describes each picture, telling the story connected with it in whatever literary form, whether history, biography, mythology or mere art genius. In connection with the description the pronunciation of the name of the picture is given, if not obvious, and a translation of the name if foreign; also the pronunciation of the name of the artist if not obvious.

The aim is with pictures and stories to touch the high places, so to speak, in the progress of the world. The mere selection of choice pictures with the description and stories that naturally go with them accomplishes this end because from the beginning of history master minds in art have chosen master events as their subjects.

In the paraphrase of Théophile Gautier's words by Austin Dobson:

"All passes,-Art alone
Enduring stays to us;

The Bust outlasts the throne

The Coin Tiberius."

The reproductions, descriptions and biographies are distributed with especial view of variety to avoid monotony, but are made readily available in any order desired by the exhaustive cross-reference index at the end of the volume. If, therefore, one desires to examine all of the pictures of a given artist here reproduced, he has but to turn to the artist's name in the index as his key; or if he wishes to find a given picture the index gives him its name, artist and page; or if he wishes to examine pictures of a given school of art the index guides him with equal accuracy; or if he thinks of a subject in history or literature-if this work contains an illustration of it--the index will direct him to its location.

In the index section there will also be found a chronology of artists, art schools and their paintings; an art bibliography; a glossary and pronouncing dictionary of technical art terms, and much other information of splendid reference value.

The value of this publication is in both its power of entertaining and of instructing. Education obtained by the suggestive method is the most lasting; that is why parents so readily adopt the kindergarten method of training children

that which they learn while believing they are at play is more lastingly retained. This is true of all ages, that is, of "Boys and girls from six to sixty." This work meets such a requirement; the stories are so brief that while perusing this volume for mere entertainment it is not difficult to yield to the temptation of reading the stories because of their brevity, and yet the salient facts of the world's development contained in these stories impress themselves because the pictures illustrate them.

The love of art for art's sake is in a state of distinct progress in America, partly because of the increased travel in foreign countries where the art galleries are visited, and partly because the use of pictures in the common schools has become so general.

Access to art reproductions has not heretofore been scientific in its classification. People knew vaguely of certain pictures, they knew vaguely of certain historic or literary scenes which were reproduced in art, but they did not quite know where to get at them. It often happens that people have the means of making themselves happy or better educated but have not taken the pains or had the ability to systematize these means. The plan adopted in COSMO COLLECTION brings these means, in appropriate and useful form, within the reach of all of the homes.

The work, in an important sense, serves to illustrate all of the other publications in the home library. If the owner is reading fiction where some important event is mentioned he can turn to COSMO COLLECTION and probably find the illustration of that event. Even in reading encyclopedic articles, and in the use of the encyclopedia as a reference work, he can turn to this book to illustrate the subject in hand. And, conversely, the poring over either pictures or articles as a mere matter of entertainment will suggest the reading of important events in literature and history, so the reader will turn from this entertainment to his histories, etc., and read with a real inspiration, which is the only way reading counts. Thus, it takes no great stretch of the imagination to transform COSMO COLLECTION, which is primarily and distinctively a source of entertainment, into a source of utility. The publishers hope the work will fulfill both requirements to the entire satisfaction of their patrons.

TS art and literature are the fine flower and golden fruit of a nation's real being. Not for themselves alone do these exist or suffice. They are, primarily, that the true life of the organized being may survive and be rightly reproduced, but serving this purpose, in nature's abundance and with. higher mission, they are also for the delight and nurture of

all who will partake her generous bounties.

These precious growths of art, the world's choicest heritage, must rest on, and have their roots in, a sound national prosperity and a healthy national life; and they are, at once, the indication that such conditions really prevail in a people, and the promise that they are to continue.

In America, we have the national prosperity, and we dare to believe that we have, in large degree, the healthy and sound national life, which is the basis for high achievement, the necessary condition for glorious and lasting results in art and literature.

Proofs are not wanting that these things are being wrought among us. We have the right to marvel at the generous and luxuriant growth, in this country, of great public institutions fostering the arts, the sciences and the humanities; universities, schools, libraries, museums, public and private collections of art objects; and still better, to rejoice in that general intelligent desire for the worthy and beautiful, which has promoted these things.

Art is not the possession alone of the few or the wealthy. The duty of the hour is to increase, among the people at large, the love of good art, to spread the knowledge and appreciation of true and noble art creations, and to put the people in possession of its own, by making, in worthy form, these treasures accessible to the largest number.

Such, in a modest way, is the purpose of the COSMO COLLECTION, and the sufficient reason for its being.

It bespeaks, and will seek to merit, the favor of all who love art.

Prologue

By B. B. B.

How pleased the day that can send forth
The student on his quest of worth
Among the nations great of old,

Where so much story has been told
In marble, canvas, tower and spire,
That we to-day are all on fire
With lasting love for that rich dower
Left us in trust by old world power;
Holy men in centuries past

Gave forth their lives that we be blest

With all the product of a time

When but to live was nigh sublime;

When to create was not a task,

But men worked on that we might bask

In present glory of those days

That still shed forth a flood of rays

For every soul that humbly bows

As priest who takes the sacred vows. Who does not lift his soul in prayer

To see the wonder penciled where Men may come to feast the mind

Since art should help him reach and find The goal to which true men aspire,

Which is to climb e'en higher on higher

To reach a plain, a scheme of life,

That lifts real man above the strife, And gives him moments of pure joy

That tend to build, not to destroy. Why was a Giotto given his hour, Masaccio such wondrous power,

Uccello the strength to face

The problem which then balked his race? Angelico faith to pursue,

And Filippo his work to do?

And now upon the scene there comes
Verrocchio with his great bronze;

And Donatello, in whose name

There is a charm much more than fame.

The meek Bellini! Earnest men

We love them now as others then. Botticelli! to trace his brush

Brings flood of thought with quiet hush, Like waters of a placid stream

That bid the passer halt and dream. Leonardo has grandly spok'n

To those who seek in art a tok'n

Of God's intent unto His world;
'Tis writ on banner he unfurled;
For he was lowly man's true guide-
To him the gates were opened wide.
It is the same where'er we turn;

Men have lived that we may learn
To bow the head and lift the mind
And listen to the voices kind-
That come from out the past to say,

"Give thought to God while yet 'tis day."
The host of workers in Art's field
Increase until the problems yield.
High Renaissance at one sure bound;
Now three great schools of artists found:
Sweet Raphael is at work with might-
The central school has reached its height;

Great Angelo's true chisel states

With him at fore there culminates The Florentine of great repute,

And this no one has dared dispute; Then Titian with his canvas bright - Puts Venice in the clear lime-light 'Til all the world looks on enthralled At glowing color he installed. To say these men had task begun Was to proclaim a victory won; And in their wondrous art to-day Each masterpiece seems now to say: "This is the triumph of a soul; Comprehend, and reach thy goal."