Roman and Medieval Art

It is true that in recent centuries, those namely of recent modern history, the arts Of painting and sculpture, at least, have become mainly matters Of luxury, and that as arts of popular education and instruction they have been displaced by printed books. Hence the difficulty of making imme diately apparent, before the subject itself has been opened up, that a Izz'sfmj/ of art is not so much a history of the arts of design as it is a history of civilization. But if this point is not apparent in advance, it is notwithstanding the point which in recent years has drawn more and more attention to the subject, until it is beginning to figure as an indis pensable part of the philosophy and knowledge of general history.