THE TECHNICS OF METAL ENGRAVING. 317 



root of the whole business, and I must get it well asserted, 

 and variously. 



Let me pass to a more important example. 



128. Three years ago, in the rough first arrangement of the 

 copies in the Educational Series, I put an outline of the top of 

 Apollo's sceptre, which, in the catalogue, was said to be prob- 

 ably by Baccio Banclini of Florence, for your first real exer- 

 cise ; it remains so, the olive being put first only for its 

 mythological rank. 



The series of engravings to which the plate from which that 

 exercise is copied belongs, are part of a number, executed 

 chiefly, I think, from early designs of Sandro Botticelli, and 

 some in great part by his hand. He and his assistant, Baccio, 

 worked together ; and in such harmony, that Bandini proba- 

 bly often does what Sandro wants, better than Sandro could 

 have done it himself ; and, on the other hand, there is no de- 

 sign of Bandini's over which Sandro does not seem to have 

 had influence. 



And wishing now to show you three examples of the finest 

 work of the old, the renaissance, and the modern schools, 

 of the old, I will take Baccio Bandini's Astrologia, Plate UL, 

 opposite. Of the renaissance, Durer's Adam and Eve. And 

 of the modern, this head of the daughter of Herodias, en- 

 graved from Luini by Beaugrand, which is as affectionately 

 and sincerely wrought, though in the modern manner, as any 

 plate of the old schools. 



129. Now observe the progress of the feeling for light and 

 shade in the three examples. 



The first is nearly all white paper ; you think of the outline 

 as the constructive element throughout. 



The second is a vigorous piece of white and black not of 

 light and shade, for all the high lights are equally white, 

 whether of flesh, or leaves, or goat's hair. 



The third is complete in chiaroscuro, as far as engraving 

 can be. 



Now the dignity and virtue of the plates is in the exactly 

 inverse ratio of their fulness in chiaroscuro. 



Bandini's is excellent work, and of the very highest school 



