DOI Seite / Zitierlink:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.18825#0036
%6 HISTORY OF art, [lECT. i.
formed by stamping rather than engraving ; for
the softness of this metal particularly qualifies it, as
it easily receives the impression desired. Wood has
been used in many instances, and has produced works
of great merit; but, beside the difficulty of printing
impressions from it, it is not capable of those exqui-
site degrees of degradation, and of that beautiful
finishing, which forms the distinguishing excellence
of engraving on copper : hence copper is now used
for all works requiring accuracy, and neatness; and,
by the several manners in which engraving on cop-
per is performed, it furnishes a variety adapted to
every requisition of Art.
The rolling-press was inventedbyJusTUsLiPSius t
and was first brought into England from Antwerp by
John Steed, A. D. \QlO.
We have now traced the Arts, though indeed but
slightly, from their origin to their glory, from their
glory to their decay, from their decay to their revi-
val ; we have seen them spread and flourish, or lan-
guish and decay; we have seen their influence also,
that it has occasionally been considerable, and exten-
sive ; if it has not always been so well directed as
must be wished, we have shewn that this was not
from any bias in the Arts themselves, but from
that disposition of mind which too often perverts the
noblest studies, and debases the most respectable
professions. We have seen, that when any state has
cherished the Arts, the Arts in return have embel-
lished and adorned jt? have recorded its advantages,
or its honours; have related events connected with it
in a language familiar at once to the native., and to the
stranger,
formed by stamping rather than engraving ; for
the softness of this metal particularly qualifies it, as
it easily receives the impression desired. Wood has
been used in many instances, and has produced works
of great merit; but, beside the difficulty of printing
impressions from it, it is not capable of those exqui-
site degrees of degradation, and of that beautiful
finishing, which forms the distinguishing excellence
of engraving on copper : hence copper is now used
for all works requiring accuracy, and neatness; and,
by the several manners in which engraving on cop-
per is performed, it furnishes a variety adapted to
every requisition of Art.
The rolling-press was inventedbyJusTUsLiPSius t
and was first brought into England from Antwerp by
John Steed, A. D. \QlO.
We have now traced the Arts, though indeed but
slightly, from their origin to their glory, from their
glory to their decay, from their decay to their revi-
val ; we have seen them spread and flourish, or lan-
guish and decay; we have seen their influence also,
that it has occasionally been considerable, and exten-
sive ; if it has not always been so well directed as
must be wished, we have shewn that this was not
from any bias in the Arts themselves, but from
that disposition of mind which too often perverts the
noblest studies, and debases the most respectable
professions. We have seen, that when any state has
cherished the Arts, the Arts in return have embel-
lished and adorned jt? have recorded its advantages,
or its honours; have related events connected with it
in a language familiar at once to the native., and to the
stranger,