PREFACE TO SECOND EDITION.
My first and pleasantest duty is to offer my heartiest thanks to the numerous correspondents who have honoured me with sympathetic letters of approval and with valuable criticisms. Judging from these kind letters, which have poured upon me in grateful showers, my book has filled a want in art literature. These letters, coming as they do from artists of all kinds, art-masters and photographers, many of whom are perfect strangers to me, have supplied me with suggestions and criticisms which I shall make use of in a later edition, if the public so will that there be one, and some of my correspondents I shall take the liberty of publicly thanking.
The call for this second edition has come so soon that I have only had time to correct a few superficial errors, and as but few reviews have as yet reached me, I cannot answer any criticisms upon my work. So far there is nothing to answer.
I can only repeat that the student will do well to make artists his final court of appeal, and he must then act as he thinks fit. I have no burning desire to make converts, my sole object has been to tell the student what I could—if he wished to know it. As to my views, I am perfectly willing that no one shall accept them, and am content to let posterity judge between me and my adverse critics.
In deference to the opinion of a highly valued friend—a well-known artist—I have included in this edition (as an Appendix) my paper on “Science and Art” read at the Camera Club Conference on March 26th, 1889.
Chiswick, March, 1889.