Typographia: or the printers' instructor, including an account of the origin of printing / [J. Johnson].

  • John Johnson
Date:
1824
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: Typographia: or the printers' instructor, including an account of the origin of printing / [J. Johnson]. Source: Wellcome Collection.

    669/708 (page 647)
    ih M/E H| | (FUL. | Cypogrvaphia.....647 time has began to correct the above evil, and types are now produced exhibiting that strength, grace, and lightness, which must ever be pleasing to the sight. 4 The art of Engraving on Wood, which is so closely con- nected with printing. also kept pace with it in improvement; and itis highly creditable to those gentlemen who have thus persevered in the advancement of the Art. Weare of opinion, that the persons who formerly stated that a capricious taste was produced (from the attempts of the first-rate artists to ri- val copper) will now think otherwise, after bags | the most extraordinary productions which have appeared during the last twelve ——. it was also asserted, that softness and de- licacy could not be produced from them at the press; but in this their expectations have been disappointed, and we trust that we shall still witness much greater efforts towards per- fection in this curious branch of Art, and that the printers will not be behind hand in executing their part, to the satisfaction of the admirers of Art, and all real judges. ; It has been observed, that “no kind of engraving is better calculated to preserve the real outline and proportion of the designer, than that of which we are now speaking: this will be easily credited, when it is stated, that he generally makes the drawing with pencil upon the block, and the duty of the en- graver is, with the greatest exactness, to leave those lines standing, by cutting away the interstices. Thus, as the most unfinished etchings on copper of the ancient masters are more valuable than any imitation of them by a second hand, the on of the engraver on wood can always be depended upon, or giving, as far as the drawing and proportions are concern- ed, a faithful transcript of the performances of the designer.” The difficulties attending the printing of wood engravings are such as to require the greatest care and attention in the printer, otherwise, all the labour previously bestowed by the designer and engraver will prove abortive; the printer of fine wood aa should have some knowledge of light and shade, without which he must of necessity find himself ata loss in preparing his subjects for the press, however great his skill may be in other respects; for itis from the nice touches alone that the beauty and effect of the engravings are brought they would more highly prize works of Art on wood, than they have hitherto done. There has been a most extraordinary demand for engrav- ings on wood within the last twelve months, but we are sorry to observe, that by far the greater portion are of an inferior class, which reflect no credit on the eminent artists under whose names they are sent forth. A difference of opinion exists respecting the colour of printing ink; some admire the glaring effect of a dark black, while others prefer the softened richness and warmth of a deep mellow tone, which is always pleasing to behold, without in the least being fatiguing to the sight. Ink-making being for- merly confined to one or two persons, they troubled themselves little about improvement, until others started up, since which it must be acknowledged ,very superior inks have been manu-