The aim of this book is to trace the develop ment of Bible illustration from the crude pic tures of the catacombs to the great art which embodied in visible form the Bible Beautiful. The story is carried through the art of vari ous countries, and is brought down to the work of the present day. By covering so much ground, even in this brief way, we are able to get some sense of the continuity of our sub ject, some idea of its place in the whole his tory of art. And, as we go along, we can scarcely fail to see that no one can understand the great art monuments who does not know his Bible. It may perhaps be equally true such indeed was Ruskin's belief that no one can in any large sense understand the Bible itself until he has learned to read the art com mentaries upon it.