419 



OF ENGRAVING. 



Engravings or graving, as it is sometimes called, 

 is the cutting lines upon a copper-plate, by meaps 

 of a steel instrument, called a graver. 



This was the first way of producing copper-pl^te 

 prints that was practised, and is still much i^sed in 

 historical subjects, portraits, and in finishing land- 

 scapes. 



The tools necessary for this art are, gravers, a 

 scraper, a burnisher, an oil-stone, a sand-bag, an 

 oil-rubber, and some good charcoal. 



The gravers are instruments of tempered steel, 

 fitted into a short wooden handle. They are of 

 two sorts, square and. lozenge : the first is used iji 

 cutting very broad strokes, the other for fainter 

 and more delicate lines. 



The scraper is a three-edged tool, for scrapii^g 

 off the burr raised by the graver. Burnishers ar.e 

 for rubbing down any lines that are too deep, or 

 burnishing out any scratches or holes i^ the cop- 

 per: they are of very hard steel, wejl rounded 

 and polished. 



The oil-stone is for whetting the gravers, etch- 

 ing-points, &c. 



The sand-bag, or cushion, is for laying the plate 

 upon, for the conveniency of turning ijt r,ound in 

 any direction. 



The oil-rubber and charcoal are for polishing 

 the plate when necessary. 



As great care is required to whet the graver 

 nicely, particularly tlie beljy of it, the two an^le^s 

 of the graver which are to be held next the pliajte, 

 must be laid flat upon the stone, and rubbed 

 steadily, till the belly rises gradually above the 



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