318 ARIADNE FLORENT1NA. 



Durer's entirely accomplished work, but of an inferior school 

 And Beaugrand's, excellent work, but of a vulgar and non* 

 classical school. 



And these relations of the schools are to be determined by 

 the quality in the lines ; we shall find that in proportion as 

 the light and shade is neglected, the lines are studied ; that 

 those of Bandini are perfect ; of Durer perfect, only with a 

 lower perfection ; but of Beaugrand, entirely faultful. 



130. I have just explained to you that in modern engraving 

 the lines are cut in clean furrow, widened, it may be, by suc- 

 cessive cuts ; but, whether it be fine or thick, retaining 

 always, when printed, the aspect of a continuous line drawn 

 with the pen, and entirely black throughout its whole course. 



Now we may increase the delicacy of this line to any extent 

 by simply printing it in grey colour instead of black. I ob- 

 tained some very beautiful results of this kind in the later 

 volumes of l Modern Painters,' with Mr. Armytage's help, by 

 using subdued purple tints ; but, in any case, the line thus 

 engraved must be monotonous in its character, and cannot be 

 expressive of the finest qualities of form. 



Accordingly, the old Florentine workmen constructed the 

 line itself, in important places, of successive minute touches, 

 so that it became a chain of delicate links which could be 

 opened or closed at pleasure.* If you will examine through 

 a lens the outline of the face of this Astrology, you will find it 

 is traced with an exquisite series of minute touches, suscepti- 

 ble of accentuation or change absolutely at the engraver's 

 pleasure ; and, in result, corresponding to the finest condi- 

 tions of a pencil line drawing by a consummate master. In 

 the fine plates of this period, you have thus the united powers 

 of the pen and pencil, and both absolutely secure and multi- 

 pliable. 



* The method was first developed in engraving designs on silver 

 numbers of lines being executed with dots by the punch, for variety's 

 sake. For niello, and printing, a transverse cut was substituted for the 

 blow. The entire style is connected with the later Roman and Byzan- 

 tine method of drawing lines with the drill hole, in marble. See above, 

 Lecture IT., Section 70. 



