File:A treatise on wood engravings - historical and practical (1881) (14773809741).jpg

Identifier: treatiseonwooden00chat (find matches)
Title: A treatise on wood engravings : historical and practical
Year: 1881 (1880s)
Authors: Chatto, William Andrew, 1799-1864 Jackson, John, 1801-1848 Bohn, Henry G. (Henry George), 1796-1884
Subjects: Wood-engraving
Publisher: New York : J. W. Bouton
Contributing Library: Harold B. Lee Library
Digitizing Sponsor: Brigham Young University

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ave the appearance of fine lace. Bewicks birds and tail-pieces are not, in my opinion, less excellent because they do not displayso much work as a modern wood-cut which contains numerous cross-hatchings. Several of the best French designers on wood of the presentday appear to have formed erroneous opinions on this subject; and hencewe find in many of their designs much of the engravers time spent inthe execution of parts which are unimportant, while others, whereexpression or feeling ought to be shown, are treated in a careless manner.Many of their designs seem to have been made rather to test the patience THE PEACTICE OF WOOD ENGEAVING. 609 of the engraver as a workman than to display his ability as an artist.The following cut, from a cast of a part of the Death of Dentatus, isintroduced to show in how simple and effective a manner Mr. Harveyhas represented the shield of the hero. An inferior artist would be. verylikely to represent such an object by means of comphcated lines, which,
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while they would be less effective, would require nearly a week to engrave. Considering the number of wood engravings that are yearly executedin this country, it is rather surprising that there should hitherto have beenso few persons capable of making a good drawing on wood. Till within E R 610 THE PEACTICE OF WOOD ENGKAVING. the last few years, it might be said that there was proLabl) not morethan one artist in the kingdom possessing a knowledge of design whoprofessionally devoted himself to making drawings on the block for woodengravers. Whenever a good original design is wanted, there are stillbut few persons to whom the English wood engraver can apply withthe certainty of obtaining it; for though some of our most distinguishedpainters have occasionally furnished designs to be engraved on wood,it has mostly been as a matter of especial favour to an individual whohad an interest in the work in which such designs were to appear. Inthis respect we are behind our French neighbours; the

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