The History of Modern Painting in 3 Volumes by Richard Muther (1860-1909), Henry & Co, First Edition 1895-6

The History of Modern Painting in three volumes, translated from the German and published by Henry and Co., London in 1905-06. Profusely illustrated with vignette engravings throughout.

The original blue cloth covers feature a beautiful art nouveau impressed design with gilt writing to the front and spine. The block is gilded to the top. Internally firmly bound and with bright and clean pages. Some bumping to edges and wear. Volume 2 has a number of uncut pages. Inside is a book plate to George Washington Baxter.

Richard Muther (1860-1909) was a German critic and art historian, writing a history of painting from the fourth century to the late nineteenth century. He also wrote books about Leonardo da Vinci, Rembrandt, Goya and Jean-Francois Millet. He wrote his ‘Geschichte der Malerei im 19. Jahrhundert’ in 1893-94. These books were among the first surveys of modern art in Europe and were praised by the writers Hugo von Hofmannstahl and his friend, Rainer Maria Rilke. Muther quickly became the popular spokesman for modern art and his History of Modern Painting was soon after translated into English and other languages.