[ 47 ]

net, and modern delicacy, which do the modern artif!
much honour.

Having thus blown afide a little of the venerable dufr,
which, while it only concealed blemifhes, was fuppofed
to add beauties, we mall very readily pay the tribute of
praife where it appears juftly due ; but this in Order.

Mr. S. gives us among his plares feveral ftamps,
which prove how very near the ancients were to the
difcovery of printing; they are curious, and we very
much wifh the fubject were purfued fomewhat further;
a few plates might with little expence be engraved, and
perhaps they might well repay the trouble.

The Dictionary part of this work has been attended
with immenfe labour; many obfcure names are deterre,
and many good obfervations made: It is, undoubtedly,
the* beft book of the kind extant, and will be found ex-
tremely ufeful to collectors of prints, and to thofe who
value fcarcities, rarieties, and curiofities.

We fhall felecl Mr. S's account (to which we have
added a portrait, with fome additions from other autho-
rities) of that very eminent engraver,

WENCESLAUS HOLLAR.
Born, 1607. Died, 1677.
This extraordinary artift was born at Prague, in Bohe-
mia. His parents were in a genteel line of life; and he
was at firft defigned for the ftudy of the law. But the
civil commotions, which happened in his youth, ruining
his family affairs, he was obliged to fhift for himfelf;
and by difcovering fome genius for the arts, he was
placed with Marian, a very able defigner and engraver
of views. Being himfelf a man of great ingenuity, he
profited haftily from the inftruction of his tutor. An

H 2 ecce