122 



THOMAS BEWICK. 



Hyena is one of the failures, and was replaced by a superior block in 

 the 1800 edition. 



After the number of comparatively mediocre cuts, it is a great pleasure 

 to meet with the fine series of Foxes. In these we have engravings of 

 animals which Bewick took from nature. The first is the Greyhound Fox, 

 of which a fac-simile is given as a tail-piece to this chapter. It stands 

 beside a newly captured lamb, and the whole design is rich and beautifully 

 engraved. The Cur Fox, in like manner, stands beside a dead chanticleer, 

 and is also a marvellously fine block, the proportions elegant and carefully 

 produced, and with the help of the ever-ready foliage forming a brilliant 



example of Bewick's mas- 

 tery. Any artist might, 

 indeed, be proud to be 

 able to produce two such 

 faithful and beautiful pic- 

 tures. It is not too much 

 to say that Landseer in all 

 his glory never produced 

 anything better in compo- 

 sition than these : his works 

 may have been larger and in colour, but for conception and execution the 

 Foxes are quite equal to " Not Caught Yet" or Just Caught." The Arctic 

 Fox and Jackal are jejune, and the Wolf is only partially successful, but this 

 for the reason that Bewick was not certain of his work. In a letter dated 

 January 9th, 1788, which has been previously quoted, and which was published 

 in 1878 in the Newcastle Natural History Society's Transactions, Bewick says 

 to his brother John, "lam obliged to you for the drawing of the Lion. I 

 wish I had as good a one of the Wolf, the form and shape of which is so 

 variously and contradictorily represented to me by different people that I 

 am quite puzzled as to its real appearance." 



The Cur Fox. " The General History of Quadrupeds 



