Henry James (1843-1916) was an important commentator on the cultural life of 19th century Boston, Paris and London. This collection of fifty six of his critical essays and reviews includes critiques of exhibitions and collections of the works of such artists as Rousseau, Delacroix, Turner and Sargent. The essays, some of which have never produced or have been unavailable for some time, are arranged chronologically. They chart the development of James's own aesthetic attitudes but, more significantly, reveal much about the evaluative criteria that formed the basis for 19th century criticism in general. As a result they form a body of work for art historians concerned with this period's appraisal of its own artistic trends and those of previous generations.