DOI Page / Citation link:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.6915#0017
PREFACE.
" To promote the Fine Arts in Britain has become of greater importance than is generally imagined."
LORD KAIMES.
A preface furnishes an author with an opportunity of reviewing himself; and,
in the present age of literary criticism and fastidiousness, every writer will find
it necessary, however careful he may be at the commencement of a work, to
scrutinize it when completed. The Editor has done this, and candidly avows
that his anticipations at the beginning, and sentiments at the conclusion, are
not strictly in unison. At first it was thought that it would he easy to bring
into one work a concentration of talent, and thus produce excellence; but this
is either wholly impracticable, or extremely difficult to be attained : for the
present volume is neither what it ought to have been, nor equal to the Editor's
intentions. To explain the reasons, however, would subject him to personal
animosities, in addition to those he has already encountered. Suffice it to
assert, that he has strenuously endeavoured to produce a work truly respectable,
and honourable to the present state of English art and English literature. It
is believed that the associated powers of the pen and the graver may be
judiciously and usefully employed to the mutual advantage of each other : to
promote the cause of the Fine Arts, satisfy the impartial artist, and gratify the
refined connoisseur. Whilst the well-executed engraving captivates the sight,
the apposite dissertation is calculated to afford all requisite information ; and at
the same time may be made to rouse the best principles of patriotism, by
exciting reverence, and encouragement for native talent.
At the commencement of this work it was thought advisable to embrace the
three classes of " the Fine Arts of the English School," and to illustrate these
by highly-finished engravings accompanied by historical and critical essays.
The plates were intended to display the various and best styles of engraving ;
to satisfy the demands of the painters and sculptors, from whose works they
were executed : in pleasing them it was inferred the prints would gratify the
" To promote the Fine Arts in Britain has become of greater importance than is generally imagined."
LORD KAIMES.
A preface furnishes an author with an opportunity of reviewing himself; and,
in the present age of literary criticism and fastidiousness, every writer will find
it necessary, however careful he may be at the commencement of a work, to
scrutinize it when completed. The Editor has done this, and candidly avows
that his anticipations at the beginning, and sentiments at the conclusion, are
not strictly in unison. At first it was thought that it would he easy to bring
into one work a concentration of talent, and thus produce excellence; but this
is either wholly impracticable, or extremely difficult to be attained : for the
present volume is neither what it ought to have been, nor equal to the Editor's
intentions. To explain the reasons, however, would subject him to personal
animosities, in addition to those he has already encountered. Suffice it to
assert, that he has strenuously endeavoured to produce a work truly respectable,
and honourable to the present state of English art and English literature. It
is believed that the associated powers of the pen and the graver may be
judiciously and usefully employed to the mutual advantage of each other : to
promote the cause of the Fine Arts, satisfy the impartial artist, and gratify the
refined connoisseur. Whilst the well-executed engraving captivates the sight,
the apposite dissertation is calculated to afford all requisite information ; and at
the same time may be made to rouse the best principles of patriotism, by
exciting reverence, and encouragement for native talent.
At the commencement of this work it was thought advisable to embrace the
three classes of " the Fine Arts of the English School," and to illustrate these
by highly-finished engravings accompanied by historical and critical essays.
The plates were intended to display the various and best styles of engraving ;
to satisfy the demands of the painters and sculptors, from whose works they
were executed : in pleasing them it was inferred the prints would gratify the