go 



THOMAS BEWICK. 



ment to Bell's Catalogue of Bewick's Works, 1 85 1 , impressions of both 

 are given. 



In 1787 there appeared in the Newcastle Courant for the first time a view of 

 the Custom House near the Tyne, which was engraved for a grocer. In 1788 

 a cut of a top-boot — an object neither interesting nor elegant — appears 

 among the advertisements of a bootmaker ; it was probably, like the former, 

 from Bewick's workshop. In this year also Bewick made a cut of the 

 Newcastle arms for Angus, the printer, which was signed " T. Bewick, 

 ScuP., N'castle, 1788." The heading for the Advertiser on page 72 is very 

 similar to this.* 



On the 10th of April, 1789, Beilby and Bewick published an important 

 copper-plate — 'iof in. by 7 in. in size — of a once locally famous animal, the 

 Whitley Large Ox, belonging to Mr. Edward Hall, of Whitley, in Northum- 

 berland, "drawn and engraved by T. Bewick." The ox is represented 

 standing, displaying its huge yet gainly proportions amidst a scene of 

 which a view of Tynemouth Castle forms the background. This plate is now 

 somewhat difficult to obtain. It is perhaps the best specimen of Bewick's 

 handiwork on copper, but as he was rather weak in this department of art, 

 and as the artistic merit is not more than ordinarily conspicuous, the print 

 cannot be pronounced worth much trouble to search after. 



"The Beauties of Natural History," from Buffon's "History of Quadru- 



* In 1788 (not 1778, as stated in the " Treatise on Wood Engraving ") Beilby and Bewick received as a pupil or 

 apprentice to copper-plate engraving Robert Johnson, who was bom in 1770 in Northumberland, not far from 

 Bewick's own birthplace. Bewick's mother during her last illness had been nursed by Johnson's mother, and it was 

 at the invalid's request that the youth was taken for an apprentice. He did not show any aptitude for engraving, but 

 as a designer and water-colour painter his work was of the very highest quality. It was with this pupil that the 

 partners had a lawsuit concerning the payment of some drawings executed by the youth— but not in business hours — 

 which had been sold for ^40. This money was retained by the partners, but was claimed by the friends of the 

 apprentice. The employers' defence, that it belonged to them, was disallowed on it being shown that drawing in 

 water-colours was not necessarily a part of the apprentice's education as an engraver. Johnson died at the early age 

 of twenty-five, on October 29th, 1796, after having executed a number of drawings for Pinkerton's Scottish Gallery. 

 Some of his larger works are of the most exquisite kind. One in the possession of Mr. Crawhall, Newcastle, is a 

 perfect gem, and equal in every respect to Turner or Girtin. This drawing is, indeed, almost too valuable for 

 a private collection ; when it comes to be public property (as it is intended it should) connoisseurs will be greatly and 

 agreeably surprised to see its marvellous beauty. 



