156 ANIMAL PAINTERS 



sessed not talent but genius ; the clearness with 

 which his plates are always cut, whether the subject 

 be animal, bird or figure, betrays the bold, firm hand 

 of self-confidence. Close and discriminating study 

 of Nature, nice appreciation of form, and excep- 

 tional talent in presenting life-like character, blend 

 to give Scott's work the accuracy of a photograph. 

 Its excellence was fully recognised in the most 

 acceptable form — namely, the great demand for his 

 engravings ; but we must reproduce from The 

 Sporting Magazine of April, 1832, a eulogistic 

 notice which, though published after the death of 

 Scott, was without question inspired by contempla- 

 tion of his numerous plates : — 



" To remark that the art of engraving has now reached a 

 degree of perfection which leaves other countries far behind 

 us is almost superfluous, since every picture-shop in London 

 proves the fact ; but in no department, we may venture to 

 say, has its genius been so widely exercised. We may also 

 add, so liberally appreciated as in, and by, the sporting 

 world." 



It is not too much to say that John Scott's com- 

 bined talents as a draughtsman and engraver 

 equipped him for the production of works that 

 have never been surpassed. Among these atten- 

 tion may be called to the following: — 



The plates in Britton's Cathedral Antiqtdties and 

 in Westall's Illustrations of the Book of Common 

 Prayer, published by Tresham and Ottley. 



