252 



THOMAS BEWICK. 



we may trace much of the lively interest that has been recently displayed in 

 the works of Bewick. About thirty of Bewick's blocks were also printed in 

 the room, these lending an additional interest to the exhibition : the prints 

 were afterwards bound up in a quarto book. At the close of the exhibition, 

 the drawings having been returned, the following letter was received by Mr. 

 Marcus Huish, through whose instrumentality the exhibition was organized, 

 from Miss Isabella Bewick, which bears witness to the interest she and her 

 elder sister, Miss Jane, who was then alive, took in the project : — 



"Gateshead, January 28th, 1881. Mr. Huish. Sir, — I have the pleasure to 

 inform you that we have received our Treasures all safe, and consequently we are 

 very busy. My sister joins me in thanks to you for all the trouble you have taken, 

 and I am, with the greatest respect, Yours truly, Isabella Bewick." 



Besides the drawings there are in the Museum about 2,620 proofs of wood 

 and copper engravings taken from the blocks and plates executed by Thomas 

 Bewick. The Birds and the Quadrupeds, and their vignettes, the 181 8 .^Esop 

 Fables, the woodcuts for the unpublished History of Fishes, the Tommy Trip, 

 1776 Fables, and many others are included in the collection. The original 

 designs and the finished engravings being thus brought together, visitors can 

 examine them with more than ordinary interest. The spirit of the artist can 

 be distinctly traced therein by noting the little additions here and there in 

 the engraving, which in black and white bring out the subject more com- 

 pletely. The collection comprises also the " Waiting for Death," the " Kyloe 

 Ox," Pidcock's four large animals, and a great number of small engravings 

 extracted from books. There are also impressions from several of Bewick's 

 engravings on silver, a large woodcut (14^ by 5 inches) of the York, Hull, 

 and Newcastle Mail Coach, and many of the proofs of the Quadrupeds 

 coloured by the engraver himself. In order to obtain a thorough insight into 

 the large quantity, the fine quality, and the immense variety of Bewick's 

 work and the extent of his genius, it is only necessary to pay a visit to the 

 Bewick Collection in the British Museum. 



