Victorian Painters: The Text

There is no doubt that the first edition of this Dictionary, published in 1971 as The Dictionary of Victorian Painters, put Victorian painting on the map, and its subsequent two revisions and eight reprints only go to reinforce the fact that it is the accepted reference on English art of the period.

With the continued interest and the author's ongoing research in the subject, it was perhaps inevitable that a further revision and new format was necessary.

The Dictionary is now revised in two British art history books, each complementary to one another yet entirely independent works depending on the particular interest of the reader.

This Victorian art book contains over 11,000 entries. In addition to those on British artists who have not featured before, many of the existing entries have been revised and updated. In the case of the 'giants' of Victorian painting, the entries take the form of short, analytical essays.

Every attempt has been made to list all artists recorded during the period 1837-1901, and the exhaustive research into all available printed sources, including saleroom and dealers' catalogues, has meant that, where relevant, entries include not only details of artists' working lives, style and important works, but also gallery and exhibition viewings and bibliographic details - indeed this is the only Dictionary of English art to include comprehensive bibliographies on individual artists.

An invaluable feature of this British art book is the lengthy and comprehensive general bibliography, also extensively revised, and this, together with the individual entries, make the Dictionary an essential research tool and the undisputed reference on the art of the Victorian era.

This art history book is one of many art books available from the National Gallery, which include art history books, art exhibition catalogues and gift books.