Sect. III.] Engraving, 143 



of this art, of a very early date, display the s})irit 

 of the painting they were intended to co[)y, with 

 a success which has never been exceeded ; yet, 

 considering* the general excellence of engravini^. 

 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, w^ithin the period in 

 question, greatly improved both in power and con- 

 venience; new kinds of engraving liave been in- 

 vented ; and the methods before known carried to 

 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 considera- 

 tion. This is done by means of the El nor Add, 

 discovered a few years ago by Margraaf and 

 Schecle. To effect this kind of engraving a glass 

 plate is covered with melted wax or mastic. A\'hen 

 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 £ind Jluor 

 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 ])late, 

 being cleared of its coating, exhibits all the traces 

 of the instrument. 



Engraving in Aquatlnta is also a recent inven- 

 tion. This is a method of Etching on copper^ by 

 which a soft and beautiful effect is produced, re- 

 sembiino- a fine drawing- in water colours or Indian 

 ink. The artists who most distmguishcd themselves 

 in this department of engraving, within the period 



