DOI Page / Citation link:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.73059#0056
Bartoio^i and his Bjorks.
CHAPTER XXXIX.
Framing.
/"TIP<~DTTQ enough has been said to show the true dilettante's
6 ° horror of margin-clipping. But the general, even the
JL print-loving general public, does not yet understand the matter. An immense
number of the very finest stippled prints — oval, circular, and square — and mezzotints
also, have, even within the last few years, been cut down and framed " close " for
decorative purposes. If print-dealers would allow one, on whom they possibly look
as an outside dabbler in art, to give them a word of advice, it would be that they
should endeavour to persuade their patrons to have prints framed with the margins left
untouched, or at any rate with a uniform but broad—the broader the better—margin
all round. Water-colour drawings are improved by ample margins, and so are prints.
The number of choice examples of a decorative character left in their original state
with full margins, is rapidly becoming smaller and smaller; and before very long their
value will probably enormously increase, while that of prints cut close will decline.
The writer has, time after time, on his attention being called to those " beautiful
Bartolozzi engravings"—nearly always framed close—pointed out the double mistake
made in thus lowering the effect and depreciating the value of the prints ; when, after
the first incredulous pause of astonishment, regret—alas! unavailing—has generally been
expressed. Collectors being of one mind on this point, and not as a rule hesitating when
an opportunity offers to freely express their opinion, the ultimate result is not difficult
to foresee. Mr. Harvey, the well-known dealer of St. James's Street, whose windows are
always filled with charming prints, and who has been a dreadful, though not an ignorant,
sinner in this respect, lately told the writer when this subject was under discussion, that he
meant in future to keep a number of fine prints framed with uncut margins, and to explain
to purchasers the evil of cutting them down and reducing them almost to the level of
furniture pictures. He recently framed a beautiful pair of Bartolozzi's proofs with full
margins, thinking it a sin to cut them away. They were exposed in the window and
soon sold, but within a day or two were returned by the purchaser to be re-framed close
34
to
CHAPTER XXXIX.
Framing.
/"TIP<~DTTQ enough has been said to show the true dilettante's
6 ° horror of margin-clipping. But the general, even the
JL print-loving general public, does not yet understand the matter. An immense
number of the very finest stippled prints — oval, circular, and square — and mezzotints
also, have, even within the last few years, been cut down and framed " close " for
decorative purposes. If print-dealers would allow one, on whom they possibly look
as an outside dabbler in art, to give them a word of advice, it would be that they
should endeavour to persuade their patrons to have prints framed with the margins left
untouched, or at any rate with a uniform but broad—the broader the better—margin
all round. Water-colour drawings are improved by ample margins, and so are prints.
The number of choice examples of a decorative character left in their original state
with full margins, is rapidly becoming smaller and smaller; and before very long their
value will probably enormously increase, while that of prints cut close will decline.
The writer has, time after time, on his attention being called to those " beautiful
Bartolozzi engravings"—nearly always framed close—pointed out the double mistake
made in thus lowering the effect and depreciating the value of the prints ; when, after
the first incredulous pause of astonishment, regret—alas! unavailing—has generally been
expressed. Collectors being of one mind on this point, and not as a rule hesitating when
an opportunity offers to freely express their opinion, the ultimate result is not difficult
to foresee. Mr. Harvey, the well-known dealer of St. James's Street, whose windows are
always filled with charming prints, and who has been a dreadful, though not an ignorant,
sinner in this respect, lately told the writer when this subject was under discussion, that he
meant in future to keep a number of fine prints framed with uncut margins, and to explain
to purchasers the evil of cutting them down and reducing them almost to the level of
furniture pictures. He recently framed a beautiful pair of Bartolozzi's proofs with full
margins, thinking it a sin to cut them away. They were exposed in the window and
soon sold, but within a day or two were returned by the purchaser to be re-framed close
34
to