Sculptura: or, the history and art of chalcography, and engraving in copper: with an ample enumeration of the most renowned masters and their works. To which is annexed, a new manner of engraving, or mezzotinto, communicated by his Highness Prince Rupert to the author of this treatise / John Evelyn.

  • John Evelyn
Date:
1755
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: Sculptura: or, the history and art of chalcography, and engraving in copper: with an ample enumeration of the most renowned masters and their works. To which is annexed, a new manner of engraving, or mezzotinto, communicated by his Highness Prince Rupert to the author of this treatise / John Evelyn. Source: Wellcome Collection.

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    felled it) to teach all the fciences by them alone; and that with as much certitude, and infinitely more expedition, than by the molt accurate method that was ever yet produced. What a fpecimen of this, Jo. Amos Cqmmenius, in his or bis fenfua- lium pbhis, gives us in a nomenclator of all the fundamental things and adioes of men in the whole world, is public; and I do boldly affirm it to be a peice of fuch excellent ufe, as that the like was never extant, however it comes not yet to be per¬ ceived. A thoufand pities it is, that in the edition publiffied by Mr. Hoqle, thseuts were fo wretch¬ edly engraven: I do, therefore, heartily wiffi, that this might excite fome gallant and public minded perfon to augment and proceed farther upon that moil ufeful defign; which yet comes greatly ffiort of the perfedion it is capable of, were fome addi¬ tions made, and theprints reformed, and improved to the utmoft by the fkilful hand of fome rare artifir. In the mean time, what a treafury of excel¬ lent things might by this expedient be conveyed and imprefied into the waxen tables and imaginations of children! feeing, there is nothing more prepofterous, than to force thole things into the ear, which are vifible and the proper objeds of the eye ; for Picture is a kind of Universal Language, how diverfe foever the tongues and vocal expref- fions of the feveral nations which fpeak them may appear ; [folet enim pel nr a tacens loqki, maximeque prodejfe] 64 a pidure, though it has no tongue, can 44 fpeak, and convey ufeful inftrudions;55 as Na¬ zi a n z e n has it: fo as, if ever, by this, is that; long fought for art moll likely to be accompliffied. Nor