DOI Page / Citation link:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.7597#0020
PREFACE.
xiii
knoAvn, what hypothesis can be more reasonable, than that that art
was had recourse to in the fabrication of cards, immediately upon
their coming into general use ? To what purpose could it be more
readily applied ? Where, it may be asked, Avas this art of wood-
engraving, during the interval of an hundred and thirty-nine
years, which took place from the time when it was practised by the
two Cunio, to that in which the wood-cut of St. Christopher, dated
1423, was executed ?*
The next part of Mr. Singer's work upon which I think it neces-
sary to remark, is a passage which occurs at p. 128. Mr. Singer
there observes, that 1 am the first writer who has endeavoured
to shew, that the style of art which pervades the wood-cuts
of the Biblia Pauperum, the Speculum Humana, Salvationis, and the
Historia ex Cantico Canticorum, is that of the Low Countries, and
not of Germany; after which, he proceeds to say, that "it would
" be presumption in him to enter the lists with a judge so compe-
" tent," as he is pleased to consider me, "to decide upon the coun-
" try to which the style of art which pervades these rude perform-
" ances belongs, if such puerile efforts can be said to have any
" distinguishing character of this kind," &c. I am sorry that my
* Mr. Singer's objections to my opinion " but there can be no doubt that they were
that Gringonneur's cards were printed, are " among the first objects it produced, and
the more extraordinary ; since, in other parts " we have every reason to conclude, that they
of his work, he expresses his belief that " were printed from engraved blocks of
wood-engraving was used in the manufacture " wood, at least as early as the commence-
of cards long before. Indeed, at p. 230, I " ment of the fourteenth century, if they
find the following passage: " At what time " were not derived together with this art
" the application of xylography to the pur- " from the eastern world at an earlier period;
" pose of multiplying cards took place, it is " a supposition which is not entirely devoid
" not now possible to ascertain with certainty; " of probability."
C
xiii
knoAvn, what hypothesis can be more reasonable, than that that art
was had recourse to in the fabrication of cards, immediately upon
their coming into general use ? To what purpose could it be more
readily applied ? Where, it may be asked, Avas this art of wood-
engraving, during the interval of an hundred and thirty-nine
years, which took place from the time when it was practised by the
two Cunio, to that in which the wood-cut of St. Christopher, dated
1423, was executed ?*
The next part of Mr. Singer's work upon which I think it neces-
sary to remark, is a passage which occurs at p. 128. Mr. Singer
there observes, that 1 am the first writer who has endeavoured
to shew, that the style of art which pervades the wood-cuts
of the Biblia Pauperum, the Speculum Humana, Salvationis, and the
Historia ex Cantico Canticorum, is that of the Low Countries, and
not of Germany; after which, he proceeds to say, that "it would
" be presumption in him to enter the lists with a judge so compe-
" tent," as he is pleased to consider me, "to decide upon the coun-
" try to which the style of art which pervades these rude perform-
" ances belongs, if such puerile efforts can be said to have any
" distinguishing character of this kind," &c. I am sorry that my
* Mr. Singer's objections to my opinion " but there can be no doubt that they were
that Gringonneur's cards were printed, are " among the first objects it produced, and
the more extraordinary ; since, in other parts " we have every reason to conclude, that they
of his work, he expresses his belief that " were printed from engraved blocks of
wood-engraving was used in the manufacture " wood, at least as early as the commence-
of cards long before. Indeed, at p. 230, I " ment of the fourteenth century, if they
find the following passage: " At what time " were not derived together with this art
" the application of xylography to the pur- " from the eastern world at an earlier period;
" pose of multiplying cards took place, it is " a supposition which is not entirely devoid
" not now possible to ascertain with certainty; " of probability."
C