Library of the fine arts, or, repertory of painting, sculpture, architecture and engraving
RA Collection: Book
Record number
13/935
Variant Title
Arnold's Library of the Fine Arts
Arnold's Magazine of the Fine Arts and Journal of Literature and Science
Imprint
London: Published by M. Arnold, Tavistock Street, Covent Garden; Simpkin and Marshall, Stationers' Court;W. F. Wakeman, Dublin; and Oliver and Boyd, Edinburgh, 1831-1834
Physical Description
8 volumes (bound in 6) ; 22 cm.
General Note
The printer of Library of the Fine Arts is named as Richard Taylor, Red Lion Court, Fleet Street, London. The printer of Arnold's Library of the Fine Arts and of Vol. I of Arnold's Magazine of the Fine Arts and Journal of Literature and Science is Charles Whittingham, Took Court, Chancery Lane, London. The printer of Vol. III. of Arnold's Magazine of the Fine Arts and Journal of Literature and Science is John McGowan, Great Windmill Street, London. The printer of Vol. IV. of Arnold's Magazine of the Fine Arts and Journal of Literature and Science is not named.
Library of Fine Arts. Feb 1831 - Oct 1832. (21 issues)
Vol. I. = 6 issues. (No. 1. Feb - No. 6. Jul 1831)
Vol. II. = 5 issues. (No. 7. Aug - No. 11. Dec 1831)
Vol III. = 6 issues. (No. 12. Jan - No. 17. Jun 1832)
Vol IV. = 4 issues. (No. 18. Jul - No. 21. Oct 1832)
Arnold's Library of The Fine Arts. Nov 1832 - Apr 1833. (6 issues)
Vol. I. = 6 issues. (No. 1. Nov 1832 - No. 6. Apr 1833)
Arnold's Magazine of the Fine Arts. May 1833 - Jul 1834. (15 issues)
Vol. I. = 6 issues. (No. 1. May - No. 6. Oct 1833)
Vol. III. = 6 issues. (No. 1. Nov 1833 - No. 6. Apr 1834)
Vol. IV. (3 issues). (No. 7. May - No. 9. Jul 1834)
Contents
Bound in 1st volume. Spine label: Library of the Fine Arts. Vol. I. 1831.
Library of the Fine Arts; or Repertory of Painting, Sculpture, Architecture, and Engraving
Contents of Volume I -- Vol. No. 1. February 1831 to Vol. I. No. 6. July 1831 -- Index
Bound in 2nd volume. Spine label: Library of the Fine Arts. Vol. II. 1831.
Library of the Fine Arts; or Repertory of Painting, Sculpture, Architecture, and Engraving
Contents of Volume II -- Vol. II. No. 7. August 1831 to Vol. II. No. 11. December 1831 -- Index -- Discourses delivered to the students of the Royal Academy by Sir Joshua Reynolds, President
Bound in 3rd volume. Spine label: Library of the Fine Arts. Vol. III-IV. 1832.
Library of the Fine Arts; or Repertory of Painting, Sculpture, Architecture, and Engraving
Contents of Volume III -- Errata -- Vol. III. No. 12. January 1832 to Vol. III. No. 17. June 1832 -- Index -- Directions to the Binder -- Contents of Volume IV -- Vol. IV. No. 18. July 1832 to Vol. IV. No. 21. October 1832 -- Index -- Lectures on Painting delivered at the Royal Academy of Arts, London by John Opie RA; also a letter on the proposal for a public memorial of the naval glory of Great Britain (i.e. `Letter addressed to the Editor of "The True Briton" on the proposal for erecting a public memorial of the naval glory of Great Britain’ / by John Opie).
Bound in 4th volume. Spine label: Library of the Fine Arts. New Series. Vol. I. 1832-33.
Arnold's Library of The Fine Arts.
Contents of Volume I -- Vol. I. No. 1. November 1832 to Vol. I. No. 6. April 1833 -- Index to Vol. I. -- Lectures on Painting, delivered at the Royal Academy, March 1801, by Henry Fuseli, R.A., with additional observations and notes. [Lecture I. Ancient Art -- Lecture II. Art of the Moderns -- Lecture III. Invention].
Bound in 5th volume. Spine label: Library of the Fine Arts. New Series. Vol. II. 1833.
Arnold's Magazine of the Fine Arts and Journal of Literature and Science. New Series. Being a continuation of the old work called “The Library of Fine Arts.”
Table of Contents. Vol. I. New Series – Vol. I. No. 1. May 1833 to Vol. I. No. 6. October 1833 -- Index to Volume I. New Series -- [23 pages of advertisements entitled] `J. Williams Catalogue of Works on the Fine Arts, etc.’, published by J. Williams, Architectural Library, 10, Charles Street, Soho Square, London, 1833.
Bound in 6th volume. Spine label: Library of the Fine Arts. New Series. Vol. III-IV. 1833-34.
Arnold's Magazine of the Fine Arts and Journal of Literature and Science. New Series. Being a continuation of the old work called “The Library of Fine Arts.”
Table of Contents. Vol. III. New Series -- Vol. III. No. I. November 1833 to No. 6. April 1834 -- Vol. IV. No. 7. May 1834 -- Vol. IV. No. 9. July 1834. [The last issue].
Partial Content:
Library of the Fine Arts. Vol. I. Biography: G. Dawe, R.A. -- History and process of lithography -- Addresses to the student of the Roya Academy, By Sir T. Lawrence, President -- Exhibition of the Pictures at the British Institution -- View of the present state of lithography in England -- Miseries of portrait painters -- Miseries of Portrait Painters -- Sordid face painters versus sour critics -- Exchange of compliments with the Athenaeum -- Letter the President and Members of the Royal Academy -- On the use of vellum for crayon painting -- Sculptures of the Parthenon; Trustees of the British Museum -- Patronage of the arts by the English Government -- Historical sketch of the rise and progress of scene-painting in England -- Reynolds the Second on engraving and painting -- Society of British Artists, Suffolk Street Gallery -- Pugin on Ornamental timber gables -- Exhibition of the Royal Academy [1831] -- Memoir of the late J. Jackson. R.A.
Numbering peculiarities
When the journal name changes from Library of the Fine Arts to Arnold's Library of the Fine Arts, the volume number reverts to Vol. 1. When the title changes to Arnold's Magazine of the Fine Arts, the Volume numbering again reverts to Vol. I. (i.e. No. 1 May 1883 to No. 6. October 1833). However, the next issue, November 1833, is Vol. III. No. 1., not Vol. II as would be expected.
Most volumes comprise of six issues, except for Vol. II. of Library of the Fine Arts (5 issues), and Vol. IV. of Library of the Fine Arts (4 issues). Only three issues of Vol. IV of Arnold's Magazine of the Fine Arts before it ceased publication.
Summary Note
Library of the Fine Arts was a monthly magazine of critical essays on painting, sculpture, architecture, and engraving, first published in in London in February 1831. Its name changed to Arnold's Library of the Fine Arts in November 1832, and then changed again to Arnold's Magazine of the Fine Arts and Journal of Literature and Science in May 1833. It ceased publication after its July 1834 issue, i.e. the 42nd issue.
Its founder and editor was the barrister, art critic, and later Member of Parliament, James Kennedy, who wrote under the pseudonym "J.K." in early issues. Kennedy stood down as editor and owner after the October 1832 edition after he was selected as a Radical candidate for the constituency of Tiverton in that year's general election. The magazine's publisher, M. Arnold, renamed it after Kennedy stood down.
Binding Note
Half-bound in tan leather. Marbled covers. Spine lettered in gilt on blue spine labels: Library of the Fine Arts. Vol. I. 1831, [Vol. II. 1831; Vol. III-IV. 1832; New Series. Vol. I. 1832-33; New Series. Vol. II. 1833; New Series. Vol. III-IV. 1833-34].