of the Alt of Engraving in Mezzotinto upon Steel. i_ , 



of this invention, as in that of ahuost every other, difficulties 

 repeatedly presented themselves, but these have been success- 

 fully overcome ; and the art, an outline of the gradual advance 

 of which I am about to subjoin, may at present be considered 

 as arrived at a state of full and vigorous maturity. 



In the year 1812, that distinguished ornament and benefac- 

 tor of his country, the late Mr. James Watt, suggested to me the 

 possibility of engraving in mezzotinto upon steel ; but all the 

 attempts with which I immediately followed up the communi- 

 cation were unsuccessful. The hardness of the steel induced 

 me to lay that metal wholly aside; and some experiments 

 which I subsequently made upon plates of brass were attended 

 with no better results : these latter substances were so unequal 

 in their temper, that I found them quite unfit for my purpose. 



It was not, therefore, till the very recent date when Mr. Ja- 

 cob Perkins (whose indefatigable labours and extraordinary 

 inventive powers are so well known and so highly appreciated) 

 had produced blocks of steel soft enough to receive the im- 

 pressions of our tools, and form a ground upon which we have 

 been able to accomplish every thing required, that the art of 

 engraving in mezzotinto upon steel can be said to have had its 

 commencement. 



In the month of January 1820, Mr. Say made an engraving 

 on one of Mr. Perkins's blocks, and it was decidedly the best 

 specimen then produced. In February 182], I engraved a 

 portrait on the first steel plate I ever saw. It had been given 

 to me by the late Mr. Lowry, and it turned out so satisfactorily 

 as to meet the approbation of Sir Thomas Lawrence. 



On the 30th of May 1822, Mr. Lupton received the gold 

 medal from your Society for his admirable performance, — the 

 Infant Samuel. From the good fortune which has crowned 

 the latter experiments, steel plates have obtained a decided 

 preference over those of copper for engraving in mezzotinto ; 

 and the beautiful specimens now before the public, from the 

 hands of Messrs. Ward, Reynolds, Say, Lupton, and other 

 artists, recjuire only to be seen to be admired. 



In engravings in mezzotinto upon steel the tones are far 

 better defined than those obtainable upon copper. From the 

 superior density of the former metal, the clearness of the lighter 

 tints is carried to much greater perfection ; and, from the same 

 cause, the darks have also a decided preference, being distin- 

 guished by their superior richness. The advantages in these 

 respects are so numerous, that all the deficiencies, which were 

 formerly irremediable in mezzotinto engraving, are now en- 

 tirely mastered ; and the numerous <liHicuIties with which the 

 artist was always contending, completely dissipated : although 



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