DOI Page / Citation link:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.20658#0352
S58
AQUA-TINT A.
than mezzotinto. The first person who finished any pieces of this kind, that had a soft "ap-
pearance, and at the same time would print any considerable number of impressions, was
M. Le Prince, of Paris, who produced some specimens of his work, in his Modes et Usages dc
Russie. He still further improved this important discovery ; and at length Mr. Greville, brother
to the Earl of Warwick, struck with the novelty of the invention, purchased the secret of
M. Le Prince, for the sum of thirty guineas, and communicated the process to the ingenious
Mr. P. Sandby, who had before attempted it, but with little success : his genius, however, so for
improved upon the method of Le Prince, that he soon produced pieces of considerable excel-
lence. The lightness and simplicity of the effect attracted admiration from the amateurs of the
art; and many ingenious engravers, as well as artists, considered it an object worthy of their
pursuit, and endeavoured to lender themselves masters of the art. Hence several new methods
of working in Aqua-tinta were invented, each of which had its followers and partizans, which
produce that great variety and difference observable in their works.
In this branch of etching nearly the whole of the work is performed by the corrosive quality
of theaqUa_fortis 011 the copper : for after the mere outline is obtained, there is no use for the
graver, needles, burnisher, scraper, or any other tool, the different shades being effected by the
greater or less action of the aqua-fortis on the copper; the fainter parts, having been sufficiently
bitten, are stopped up, while the menstruum again exerts itself on the next stronger shades; and
these are again defended by the varnish, while the still darker-shadows are corroded.
The method of regulating the action of the aqua-fortis on the plate is by covering it sparingly
with a fine powder of a resinous nature, which, when warmed, will adhere to the copper, and
defend it, in all the points of contact, from the corrosion of the spirit, while the minute spaces
between those points will be excavated : therefore, most resinous bodies will answer this intention
in a greater or less degree. Common resin finely pulverised, was first used, and sometimes
(where the work was not very delicate) with tolerable good effect: but this substance, if too finely
powdered, is apt, when warmed, to form a coat or superficies to the plate, and hereby resists
the menstruum altogether : wherefore sal ammoniac, mingled with it, was found to preserve
interstices; but this mixture did not fully answer the intention. We shall first give the method
generally followed by the professors of this branch of art called the Dust-ground, and afterwards
the manner in which M. Le Prince wrought his plates, as well as some other processes.
The copper-plate must first have a common etching ground laid upon it, and the outlines of
the design etched thereon, and bitten with the aqua-fortis, as directed in the operation of
etching. The ground must then be softened with a little grease, (the plate being gently warmed,
if necessary) and wiped off with a linen rag, suffering as much grease to remain on the plate as
to takeoff the glare of the copper. You must now carefully, and sparingly,-sift a layer of
powdered resin and asphaltum (formed as directed below) upon the surface of the plate, which
will sufficiently adhere to the copper by reason of the grease left thereon ; then strike the other
side of the plate pretty briskly against the edge of the table or desk, which will discharge it
from all the loose and superfluous powder: next hold the back of the plate, by means of a hand-
vice, over a chafing-dish of charcoal, till it become so warm, that it cannot be held long against
the back of the hand, without exciting pain : the powder-will now adhere firmly to the copper,
and will not unite together, if tbe;'plate be not too hot. -When the ,plate is cold, with a tiair
pencil dipped in Venetian varnish, mixed with.lamp iblack, cover.all those ,parts of'the pieee
'-which
AQUA-TINT A.
than mezzotinto. The first person who finished any pieces of this kind, that had a soft "ap-
pearance, and at the same time would print any considerable number of impressions, was
M. Le Prince, of Paris, who produced some specimens of his work, in his Modes et Usages dc
Russie. He still further improved this important discovery ; and at length Mr. Greville, brother
to the Earl of Warwick, struck with the novelty of the invention, purchased the secret of
M. Le Prince, for the sum of thirty guineas, and communicated the process to the ingenious
Mr. P. Sandby, who had before attempted it, but with little success : his genius, however, so for
improved upon the method of Le Prince, that he soon produced pieces of considerable excel-
lence. The lightness and simplicity of the effect attracted admiration from the amateurs of the
art; and many ingenious engravers, as well as artists, considered it an object worthy of their
pursuit, and endeavoured to lender themselves masters of the art. Hence several new methods
of working in Aqua-tinta were invented, each of which had its followers and partizans, which
produce that great variety and difference observable in their works.
In this branch of etching nearly the whole of the work is performed by the corrosive quality
of theaqUa_fortis 011 the copper : for after the mere outline is obtained, there is no use for the
graver, needles, burnisher, scraper, or any other tool, the different shades being effected by the
greater or less action of the aqua-fortis on the copper; the fainter parts, having been sufficiently
bitten, are stopped up, while the menstruum again exerts itself on the next stronger shades; and
these are again defended by the varnish, while the still darker-shadows are corroded.
The method of regulating the action of the aqua-fortis on the plate is by covering it sparingly
with a fine powder of a resinous nature, which, when warmed, will adhere to the copper, and
defend it, in all the points of contact, from the corrosion of the spirit, while the minute spaces
between those points will be excavated : therefore, most resinous bodies will answer this intention
in a greater or less degree. Common resin finely pulverised, was first used, and sometimes
(where the work was not very delicate) with tolerable good effect: but this substance, if too finely
powdered, is apt, when warmed, to form a coat or superficies to the plate, and hereby resists
the menstruum altogether : wherefore sal ammoniac, mingled with it, was found to preserve
interstices; but this mixture did not fully answer the intention. We shall first give the method
generally followed by the professors of this branch of art called the Dust-ground, and afterwards
the manner in which M. Le Prince wrought his plates, as well as some other processes.
The copper-plate must first have a common etching ground laid upon it, and the outlines of
the design etched thereon, and bitten with the aqua-fortis, as directed in the operation of
etching. The ground must then be softened with a little grease, (the plate being gently warmed,
if necessary) and wiped off with a linen rag, suffering as much grease to remain on the plate as
to takeoff the glare of the copper. You must now carefully, and sparingly,-sift a layer of
powdered resin and asphaltum (formed as directed below) upon the surface of the plate, which
will sufficiently adhere to the copper by reason of the grease left thereon ; then strike the other
side of the plate pretty briskly against the edge of the table or desk, which will discharge it
from all the loose and superfluous powder: next hold the back of the plate, by means of a hand-
vice, over a chafing-dish of charcoal, till it become so warm, that it cannot be held long against
the back of the hand, without exciting pain : the powder-will now adhere firmly to the copper,
and will not unite together, if tbe;'plate be not too hot. -When the ,plate is cold, with a tiair
pencil dipped in Venetian varnish, mixed with.lamp iblack, cover.all those ,parts of'the pieee
'-which