The Night Heron. " The History of British Birds," Vol. II. 



CHAPTER XXII. 



NEW EDITIONS OF QUADRUPEDS AND BIRDS MISCELLANEOUS WORKS. 



1805 TO l8l I. 



E have now come to the turning-point in Bewick's artistic career. 



" * Hitherto every step he had taken had been one of progress ; first, 

 from a boy with rude implements, to an apprentice with every difficulty to be 

 overcome by his own exertion and ingenuity ; then, after mastering the techni- 

 calities of his art, to roam about for a time, and finally settle down to labour 

 in his well-beloved Newcastle, satisfied that by steady application he could 

 reach perfect workmanship, and assured by his inward power that when this 

 was done, his genius would find full scope in following the dictates of 

 Nature. He had been able to enter into the very soul of the subjects his 

 pencil or graver depicted, reveal their inner meaning, and give freshness 

 and life to what formerly was mere dry-as-dust research. 



Having attained his highest artistic powers, faithfully expounded the 

 message given him to deliver, and fulfilled and justified the reason of his 

 being, he had now reached the time when he could not hope further to improve. 



