The Artist's Repository, Or, Encyclopedia of the Fine Arts (Band 1): The Human Figure (London, 1808)

lect. i.]

history op art.

25

marked with the very same strokes as were upon the
original metal,, the sulphur having taken the black
from it : he tried to do the same from silver plates,
on wet paper^ by rubbing it gently on the back ;
this also succeeded; and this was the origin of that
manner of engraving which is now carried to exqui-
site perfection. This science is of the greatest uti-
lity to Art and to Artists; nothing spreads a master's
fame so much as a general circulation of prints from
his works ; statues, and piclures^ are confined to one
place, but by means of this discovery their beauties are
exhibited to the world at large : nor is this profession
less serviceable to Art in general, as it furnishes very
commodiously, excellent copies of whatever is ele-
gant, or admirable, as well for the satisfaction of the
curious, and the refleclion of masters; as for the
imitation and improvement of students.

It may seem, indeed, that it was rather a discovery
of the Art of Printing than of Engraving which ori-
ginated^with. Finiguera : it was the art of mul-
tiplying impressions from subjects already engraved ;
for the Art of Engraving itself seems to have at
least as much claim to very remote antiquity as
any other branch of Art; witness the signets, &c.
usually worn by the great in the earliest ages : which
were engraved with the appropriate devices of the
persons to whom they belonged, as may be proved
from sundry passages in the Mosaic historv.

The materials which have been wrought upon by
the Art of Engraving have been various: silver,
gold, pewter, copper, wood, &c. Of these, pewter
is still used for engraving of music3 which is per-

Edit. 7. £ formed