ΤΟ SIR EDWARD LYTTON BULWER, BART., AS TO A MASTER IN THE ART, THIS ROMANCE IS RESPECTFULLY DEDICATED, PREFACE. A SPECIES of romance has lately been produced by some Continental writers, of which, hitherto, we have scarcely had any specimen in English literature. This is the Art-Novel, which permits the blending of the Ideal and the Real, in no ordinary degree, being based upon circumstances not only romantic and picturesque in themselves, but rendered additionally so by their connexion with the fortunes of some of the illustrious who, by pen or pencil, have achieved renown. One brilliant example of this class has been produced by the highly imaginative lady who writes under the name of GEORGE SAND. In "Les Maîtres Mosaïstes" she has boldly and very effectively introduced the great Titian, and James Robusti (better known as Tintoretti), with Sebastian Zuccati, and his eminent sons Francesco and Valerio. Perhaps our nearest approach to the kind of fiction of which "Les Maîtres Mosaïstes" may be considered the chef-d'œuvre, is the truthful and thrilling romance which MR. CHARLES WHITEHEAD has recently published, entitled "Richard Savage"-a work in which the mind of the hero is laid bare with stern fidelity, a work in which are admirably blended high imagination, accurate research, just conception of character, true delineation of manners, and pathos the most touching because the most natural. In the following Romance, the design has been to produce an Art-Novel, and, as such, "Titian" is presented to the public. Few biographies present more varied and interesting incidents than those of the Great Italian Painters; and the career of Titian, the head of the brilliant Venetian School, particularly struck me, (long before I contemplated writing about him, in the present form,) as capable of being illustrated in the manner I have now attempted. To trace the progress of a great mind, through its many hard struggles against ad verse circumstances-to show with what difficulties it contended, what perseverance it exercised, what aspirations it cherished, what energies it put forth-to exhibit its undeviating application, amid doubt, neglect, and even positive wrong, to the great aims for which it battled-to show its onward path from ob.. scurity to fame, in which, like a star shooting across the heavens, it left a long track of glorious light behind-to manifest its constancy of purpose, its trustful patience, amid all the "sickness of hope deferred," and its great, yet unboasting, exultation when the triumph came, the more welcome for the very delay and doubt-such I contemplated as among the capabilities of the subject, and such, however short I may have fallen in my execution, formed the main portion of my design. Nor was I unwilling, while thus exhibiting a few scenes from the life of Titian, to touch, however lightly, upon the glorious Art which he so thoroughly mastered-which, in these later days, has found so many and successful Adepts in our own land. The temp |