i54 



JOHN BEWICK. 



The blocks engraved by Thomas Bewick are " The Departure " (see p. 53), 

 " The Traveller," "The Hermit, Angel, and Guide" (p. 153), and "The 

 Hermit at his Morning Devotions " (p. 161). The engraving of the two latter 

 is particularly skilful, the large masses of foliage freely drawn, yet careful, 

 and withal perfectly natural. 



In a volume which was shown in the Bewick Exhibition, 1880, there 

 are some extracts from letters written by Bulmer to Thomas Bewick, which 

 are interesting as being the instructions the engraver received from the 

 publisher. Of " The Departure " Bulmer says : — 



" Give as much character to the faces as you possibly can ; and suppose you 

 make the foreground rather coarser than you generally do, in order to form the 

 stronger contrast with the finer finishing of the block." 



Of " The Traveller " he writes : — 



" Mr. Westall, you will see, has drawn an outline to this painting which will 

 assist you much. Be very particular in finishing the block, and above all things 

 preserve the characteristic sentiment of the face which so happily accords with the 

 language of the poet. Without this the whole force of the drawing will be lost. The 

 shrub, too, must be exactly copied. Omit the R. W. at the corner." 



Of " The Hermit, Angel, and Guide" Bulmer further says : — 



" Give the Hermit more of age and feebleness, and keep the landscape part 



gloomy, rugged, and dangerous. The drowning man to remain as it is 



Let the drapery of the Angel seem floating and free, and the face delicate and 

 sweetly interesting." 



These remarks show how capable Bulmer was to direct what should 

 be done to assist the engraver in the translation of the drawings to the wooden 

 block. He had a proper notion also what was the right sentiment that should 

 animate the engraver when at work, and the last sentence quoted gives, in a 

 few words, a complete idea of what the poet had written, and to what it was 

 best the engraver should direct his attention. 



The volume which is frequently coupled with the Goldsmith and Parnell is 



