Anna Jameson, a British authoress, born in Dublin, May 19, 1797, died in London, March 17, 1860. Her father, Mr. Murphy, was painter in ordinary to the princess Charlotte, and from him she derived her enthusiasm for art and intimate acquaintance with its technicalities. At the age of 27 she married Mr. Jameson, a barrister, who soon after received a government appointment in Canada. The marriage proved unhappy, and was soon practically if not legally dissolved. She then made a tour through France, Italy, and Germany, and in 1826 published anonymously her "Diary of an Ennuyee," a work recording her experiences of travel. She published in 1829 " Loves of the Poets " (2 vols. 8vo), a series of sketches showing the influence which women have exercised on poetic minds; in 1831, "Lives of Celebrated Female Sovereigns " (2 vols.); and in 1832, " Characteristics of Women " (2 vols.), containing disquisitions on the female characters in Shakespeare's plays. Her next work was " Beauties of the Court of Charles II.," consisting of letterpress illustrations of engravings from copies of the original pictures by Sir Peter Lely, made by her father at the desire of the princess Charlotte. It was followed by "Visits and Sketches at Home and Abroad," a collection of miscellanies, including a new edition of her " Diary of an Ennuyee." She subsequently visited Canada and a portion of the United States, recording her experiences in "Winter Studies and Summer Rambles in Canada " (3 vols., 1838), and in 1840 published a translation entitled " Pictures of the Social Life of Germany " (2 vols.), as represented in the dramas of her friend the duchess Amalie of Saxony. In 1840 the series of works on art, by which she gained her chief literary honors, properly commences with a translation of a work on the life and genius of Rubens by Dr. Waagen. It was followed by a " Handbook to the Public Galleries of Art in and near London " (2 vols., 1842), and a " Companion to the Private Galleries of Art in London " (1844). In 1845 appeared her "Memoirs of the Early Italian Painters, and of the Progress of Painting in Italy from Cimabue to Bas-sano" (2 vols. 18mo), containing 30 biographies, which cover a period of about three centuries.

A new edition containing additional biographies and other matter appeared in London in 1859. Her next publication, " Memoirs and Essays on Art, Literature, and Social Morals " (1846), contains a paper on the works and genius of Washington Allston. A more elaborate work than any of the preceding was her " Sacred and Legendary Art " (2 vols. 8vo, 1848), which, with the "Legends of the Monastic Orders " (1850), and " Legends of the Madonna " (1852), had employed her for many years. In this series she sought to trace the progress of sacred art, to explain the symbolical form in which the old masters clothed their ideas, and to indicate the purity and beauty of their conceptions. Her numerous skilful etchings from original pictures, illustrating her subject, combine to render the series a most valuable contribution to the history of art. Her remaining works are: a " Commonplace Book of Thoughts, Memories, Fancies," etc. (1854); "Sisters of Charity Abroad and at Home" (1855), the substance of a lecture; and " The History of our Lord as exemplified in Works of Art" (vol. i., 1860; vol. ii., chiefly by Lady Eastlake, 1864). '