416 Fine Arts. 



a success which has never been exceeded ; yet, con- 

 sidering the general excellence of engraving, it 

 certainly never attained so high a degree of im- 

 provement, in all respects, as during the century 

 under consideration. The instruments for prose- 

 cuting this art have been, within the period in 

 question, greatly improved both in power and con- 

 venience 3 new kinds of engraving have been in- 

 vented; and the methods before known carried ta 

 an extent of beauty and elegance unknown to the 

 artists of any preceding times. 



A method of Engraving on Glass was invented 

 toward the close of the century under consideration. 

 This is done by means of the Flour Acid, disco- 

 vered a few years ago by Margraaf and Scheele. 

 To effect this kind of engraving a glass plate is 

 covered with melted wax or mastic. When this 

 coating becomes hard, it is engraved upon by a 

 very sharp pointed needle, or other instrument of 

 that kind. A mixture of oil of vitriol and flour 

 acid is then put upon the plate, and the whole co- 

 vered with an inverted china vessel, to prevent the 

 evaporation of the acid. In two days, the plate 

 being cleared of its coating, exhibits all the traces 

 of the instrument. 



Engraving in Aqiiatinta is also a recent inven- 

 tion. This is a method o^ Etching on copper, by 

 which a soft and beautiful effect is produced, re- 

 sembling a fine drawing in water-colours or Indian 

 ink. The artists who most distinguished them- 

 selves in this department of engraving within the 

 period under consideration, were Sandby, Par- 

 KYNS, and Jukes, of Great-Britain. 



Calcographij, a species of engraving in imitation 

 of Chalk drawings, if not invented, was first 

 brought to a high state of excellence and improve-- 

 ment, in the eighteenth century. Those who have 

 been most eminently distinguished in this depart- 



