THOMAS BEWICK. 



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on Wood Engraving" (page 487), " Though the subject be simple, yet the 

 sentiment which it displays is the genuine offspring of true genius. Near to 

 a ruined cottage, while all around is covered with snow, a lean and hungry 

 ewe is seen nibbling at an old broom, while her young and weakly lamb is 

 sucking her milkless teats. Such a picture of animal want — conceived with 

 so much feeling, and so well expressed — has perhaps never been represented 

 by any artist except Bewick." A boy waving his hat as he courses along on 

 the back of a goat is new, and at pages 121 and 357 (it being repeated) is a 

 vignette of an old man carrying his young wife and child across a stream. 



The cut of the old soldier at pages 127 and 386 is new. The poor man 

 has travelled far, and has still far to go, the milestone he is just passing marks 

 eleven miles one way and fifteen the other, a blinding storm of wind and sleet 

 blows in his face, his garments are in tatters, his feet appear through his 

 worn shoes, and he gazes wistfully for his destination, which as yet does not 

 appear. Life has evidently been a thorny path for him, and his present 

 journey seems to be only one of many troubles he has had to encounter. 

 Another print shows three tinker's children in a pair of panniers on an ass's 

 back. The time is winter, and one of the children's faces bears signs of feeling 

 the chilly atmosphere. The donkey tries to get something eatable out of 

 some faggots, and in the distance a couple of cottages and a haystack are 

 seen, the chimney sending up a thick smoke, telling of big fires inside to keep 

 out the cold. Although the block at page 419 is quite out of place in being 

 among the apes, it is allowed to be one of Bewick's best works. A nurse 

 left in charge of a babe has, in the blandishments of her lover, forgotten her 

 duty, and while she is engaged with her wooer the child has toddled over the 

 field to where a young unbroken colt has been grazing, and pulling the hairs 

 of its long tail, has roused in it a wrath which causes it to lift its heel, and 

 possibly to kick if further provoked. The mother from the house has suddenly 

 noticed the danger to which her child is exposed, and in an agony of fear leaps 

 down the stile from her garden to rescue the innocent babe. This is said 



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