This 1883 book contains chapters on ancient costumes, Byzantine and Romanesque art, David and his school, modern schools of Europe, drawing, color, decorative painting, finish, choice of subject, composition of decorative and historical pictures, and composition of incident pictures. Edward Armitage RA (1817 – 1896) was an English painter of the Victorian era whose work focused on historical, classical and biblical subjects. He was Professor and Lecturer on painting in the Royal Academy 1875-1886. (David Wales)