DOI Heft:
Nr. 105 (November, 1905)
DOI Artikel:Sullivan, Edward: Ornamental bookbinding in Ireland in the eighteenth century
DOI Seite / Zitierlink: https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.26961#0072
Ornamental Bookbinding in Ireland
IRISH BOOKBINDING
A.BOUT A.D. 17^8
with medallists, amongst whom William
Mossop, senr., holds an honoured place.
Patrick Cunningham was building up a
name for himself as a modeller in wax ; the
printing and type of Powell and of Grierson
were falling little short of the productions
of Baskerville’s famous Birmingham press ;
while all that has to do with book-produc-
tion generally, from editing to the manu-
facture of native-made paper, was in a state
of efficiency not always met with in later
days of machine-assisted civilisation.
In these circumstances it would indeed
be stränge if no corresponding advances
had taken place in the sister craft of
decorative binding; and so, if one really
investigate the matter, making a study of
examples still in existence, it will be found
that, so far from Ireland being in a back-
ward condition in her knowledge of the
art and craft of bookbinding, she had in
this direction then achieved a Standard
of perfection which was in every sense
commensurate with anything which she
had already attained in other departments
decorated in their interiors by
Italian craftsmen who must have
been imported in great numbers.
The tasteful carvings of their
mantelpieces, the chaste designs
on walls and ceilings that still
survive, are the envy of the deco-
rator of to-day, who has neither
the patron to pay for, nor the
ability to produce—even in imita-
tion—artistic luxuries of the kind.
Painting flourished and had en-
couragement from men of taste
and wealth. Architects such as
Richard Castle (or Cassel) were
beautifying old Dublin with the
buildings which are still the ad-
miration of those who visit her
to-day. The engravers of the time
held their own with the best
engravers to be found in the
kingdom — amongst them, such
craftsmen as John Brooks and his
four distinguished pupils, Spooner,
Purcell, Richard Houston, and
James MacArdle. With miniatur-
ists it was the same; the same
54
IRISH BOOKBINDING
ABOUT A.D. 1767
IRISH BOOKBINDING
A.BOUT A.D. 17^8
with medallists, amongst whom William
Mossop, senr., holds an honoured place.
Patrick Cunningham was building up a
name for himself as a modeller in wax ; the
printing and type of Powell and of Grierson
were falling little short of the productions
of Baskerville’s famous Birmingham press ;
while all that has to do with book-produc-
tion generally, from editing to the manu-
facture of native-made paper, was in a state
of efficiency not always met with in later
days of machine-assisted civilisation.
In these circumstances it would indeed
be stränge if no corresponding advances
had taken place in the sister craft of
decorative binding; and so, if one really
investigate the matter, making a study of
examples still in existence, it will be found
that, so far from Ireland being in a back-
ward condition in her knowledge of the
art and craft of bookbinding, she had in
this direction then achieved a Standard
of perfection which was in every sense
commensurate with anything which she
had already attained in other departments
decorated in their interiors by
Italian craftsmen who must have
been imported in great numbers.
The tasteful carvings of their
mantelpieces, the chaste designs
on walls and ceilings that still
survive, are the envy of the deco-
rator of to-day, who has neither
the patron to pay for, nor the
ability to produce—even in imita-
tion—artistic luxuries of the kind.
Painting flourished and had en-
couragement from men of taste
and wealth. Architects such as
Richard Castle (or Cassel) were
beautifying old Dublin with the
buildings which are still the ad-
miration of those who visit her
to-day. The engravers of the time
held their own with the best
engravers to be found in the
kingdom — amongst them, such
craftsmen as John Brooks and his
four distinguished pupils, Spooner,
Purcell, Richard Houston, and
James MacArdle. With miniatur-
ists it was the same; the same
54
IRISH BOOKBINDING
ABOUT A.D. 1767