DOI Seite / Zitierlink:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.18734#0234
MISCELLANIES.
j^f R. Strutt's fecond volume of his elaborate
Biographical Dictionary of Engravers
being lately publifhed, we take the prefent opportunity
of introducing it to our readers ; and, without further
preface, fhall offer a few remarks on his Essay on the
Art of Engraving, which is prefixed to it.
Mr. S. previoufly notices the different manners of the
German and Italian early fchools of engraving ; and
very juftly confiders the firft, as paying more attention to
the mechanical management and neatnefs of the tool,
than to correct defign, or happy expreffion ; while the
latter, by attending anxioufly to the forms of figures,
neglected the fweetnefs and delicacy of manual execu-
tion. The reafon is evident; for the Italians, efpecially
thofe of Rome (who are here principally to be under-
ftood) poiTeffing the treafures of Antiquity, whofe cor-
reclnefs of form is their glory, attained by perpetual
ftudy to a regular imitation of their beauties : while the
Germans were obliged to feek in cafual nature for what
they wanted; and, being deffitute of authentic exam-
ples, out of a very limited choice, frequently failed in
choofmg the beft of what they had.
' The fimplicity of ftyle, which fo evidently marks
the beft Italian prints of this period, has been cenfured,
30 G witk
j^f R. Strutt's fecond volume of his elaborate
Biographical Dictionary of Engravers
being lately publifhed, we take the prefent opportunity
of introducing it to our readers ; and, without further
preface, fhall offer a few remarks on his Essay on the
Art of Engraving, which is prefixed to it.
Mr. S. previoufly notices the different manners of the
German and Italian early fchools of engraving ; and
very juftly confiders the firft, as paying more attention to
the mechanical management and neatnefs of the tool,
than to correct defign, or happy expreffion ; while the
latter, by attending anxioufly to the forms of figures,
neglected the fweetnefs and delicacy of manual execu-
tion. The reafon is evident; for the Italians, efpecially
thofe of Rome (who are here principally to be under-
ftood) poiTeffing the treafures of Antiquity, whofe cor-
reclnefs of form is their glory, attained by perpetual
ftudy to a regular imitation of their beauties : while the
Germans were obliged to feek in cafual nature for what
they wanted; and, being deffitute of authentic exam-
ples, out of a very limited choice, frequently failed in
choofmg the beft of what they had.
' The fimplicity of ftyle, which fo evidently marks
the beft Italian prints of this period, has been cenfured,
30 G witk