DOI Page / Citation link:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.75271#0306
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among his critical friends, some of whom thought the action of St.
John too familiar; the painter was convinced, and removed the
hand, but he was mistaken when he thought he added value to the
print by the alteration ; the impressions that got out with the hand
on the shoulder would buy up all the rest three times over in any
au&ion where it was properly pointed out: many of Rembrandt's
prints receive a value from accidental alterations of this kind. A
few impressions were taken from one plate before a sign-post was
inserted at an alehouse door; at a second, before a dog was intro-
duced; at a third, before a white horse tail was turned into a black.
Let the collectors of prints be cautious about buying copies for
originals, many of the works of the copiers may be so well, that a
person not versed in prints may be easily deceived: were the copies
really as good as the originals, they contrad a fliffness from the fear
of erring, that they are easily discerned when compared. The last
caution I shall give to collectors is, to take care not to purchase
bad impressions. There are three things which make an impression
bad: the first is, its being ill taken off, some prints seem to have
received the force of the roller, at intervals the impression is
double, and gives that glimmering appearance that illudes the eye.
A second, which makes an impression bad is a worn plate; there
is often as much difference between the first and last impessions, as
two different prints, the effe& is wholly lost in a faint impression,
and you have nothing left but a vapid design, without spirit, and
without force; in mezzotinto especially, a strong impression is
desirable, for its spirit quickly evaporates, without which, it is the
most insipid of all prints. In engraving or etching there will be
always here and there a dark touch, which long preserves an ap-
pearance of spirit, but mezzotinto is a slat surface, and when it be-
gins to wear it wears all over; too many of the works of all the
great masters that are hawked about at audions, or sold in (hops,
are in this wretched date; it is dissicult to meet with a good im-
pression
among his critical friends, some of whom thought the action of St.
John too familiar; the painter was convinced, and removed the
hand, but he was mistaken when he thought he added value to the
print by the alteration ; the impressions that got out with the hand
on the shoulder would buy up all the rest three times over in any
au&ion where it was properly pointed out: many of Rembrandt's
prints receive a value from accidental alterations of this kind. A
few impressions were taken from one plate before a sign-post was
inserted at an alehouse door; at a second, before a dog was intro-
duced; at a third, before a white horse tail was turned into a black.
Let the collectors of prints be cautious about buying copies for
originals, many of the works of the copiers may be so well, that a
person not versed in prints may be easily deceived: were the copies
really as good as the originals, they contrad a fliffness from the fear
of erring, that they are easily discerned when compared. The last
caution I shall give to collectors is, to take care not to purchase
bad impressions. There are three things which make an impression
bad: the first is, its being ill taken off, some prints seem to have
received the force of the roller, at intervals the impression is
double, and gives that glimmering appearance that illudes the eye.
A second, which makes an impression bad is a worn plate; there
is often as much difference between the first and last impessions, as
two different prints, the effe& is wholly lost in a faint impression,
and you have nothing left but a vapid design, without spirit, and
without force; in mezzotinto especially, a strong impression is
desirable, for its spirit quickly evaporates, without which, it is the
most insipid of all prints. In engraving or etching there will be
always here and there a dark touch, which long preserves an ap-
pearance of spirit, but mezzotinto is a slat surface, and when it be-
gins to wear it wears all over; too many of the works of all the
great masters that are hawked about at audions, or sold in (hops,
are in this wretched date; it is dissicult to meet with a good im-
pression