THOMAS BEWICK. 



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merit. Taking the more noteworthy in chronological order, we commence 

 with "The Seasons," by Thomson (1805), which, according to the title, 

 has "engravings on wood by Bewick from Thurston's designs." The 

 blocks in this volume are quite different in workmanship from those in the 

 Birds; they are so much like several of Bewick's pupils' work as to make 

 it exceedingly doubtful if the master did more than superintend their execu- 

 tion. "The Holy Bible," 1806, is a thick folio volume with about fifty 

 full-page copper-plate engravings, thirty-six signed " Engraved by Beilby 

 and Bewick." Hugo says the plates do not increase the artist's reputation, 

 but that is treating the large series of important plates rather shabbily. 

 Out of thirty-six it may readily be believed that some at least are good, and 

 indeed a few are of very great merit. 



The third edition of the "Hive of Ancient and Modern Literature" 

 was published in Newcastle in 1806, the second having appeared in 1799, 

 and the first earlier (undated), about 1798. In this edition the cuts were 

 increased to fourteen by Bewick, and nine by Clennell, together with tail- 

 pieces by the latter. There is some distinction in the style of the two 

 engravers' works. Clennell' s are softer, more mannered, and perhaps more 

 learned than Bewick's rugged and natural, yet far cleverer manner of work. 

 "The Hermit of Warkworth," issued from Alnwick in 1806, contains ten 

 engravings by Bewick; a few copies of the second edition, in 1807, were 

 published on large paper ; a London edition was also published in 1 806 with 

 Bewick's cuts, and another with blocks by Nesbit and Clennell, after Thurston. 



The next book of importance to which Bewick contributed was " Burns' s 

 Poetical Works," with "engravings on wood by Bewick, from designs by 

 Thurston," in two volumes, 1808. There are in all 54 woodcuts, 32 in the 

 first volume and 22 in the second, but none are very favourable specimens 

 of the engraver's works, and in these illustrations Bewick appears to have 

 lost the greater part of the subtle charm of his earlier labours. The 

 engravings which display something of the old magic are " Going Home," a 



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