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who declares them to be 〃much more laboured； and more or less artificial
and unequal。〃 Among the numerous imitations directly induced by the
Rogers books was the 〃Lyrics of the Heart；〃 by Alaric Attila Watts； a
forgotten versifier and sometime editor of 〃Annuals；〃 but it did not meet
with similar success。
Many illustrated works； originating in the perfection and opportunities
of engraving on metal； are necessarily unnoticed in this rapid summary。
As far； however； as book…illustration is concerned； copper and steel plate
engraving may be held to have gone out of fashion with the 〃Annuals。〃
It is still； indeed； to be found lingering in that mine of modern art…books
the 〃Art Journal；〃 and； not so very long ago； it made a sumptuous and
fugitive reappearance in Dore's 〃Idylls of the King；〃 Birket Foster's
〃Hood；〃 and one or two other imposing volumes。 But it was badly
injured by modern wood…engraving； it has since been crippled for life by
photography； and it is more than probable that the present rapid rise of
modern etching will give it the coup de grace。 ｛11｝
By the end of the seventeenth century the art of engraving on wood
had fallen into disuse。 Writing circa 1770； Horace Walpole goes so far as
to say that it 〃never was executed in any perfection in England；〃 and；
speaking afterwards of Papillon's 〃Traite de la Gravure；〃 1766； he takes
occasion to doubt if that author would ever 〃persuade the world to return
to wooden cuts。〃 Nevertheless； with Bewick； a few years later； wood…
engraving took a fresh departure so conspicuous that it amounts to a
revival。 In what this consisted it is clearly impossible to show here with
any sufficiency of detail； but between the method of the old wood…cutters
who reproduced the drawings of Durer； and the method of the Newcastle
artist； there are two marked and well…defined differences。 One of these is
a difference in the preparation of the wood and the tool employed。 The old
wood…cutters carved their designs with knives and chisels on strips of
wood sawn lengthwisethat is to say； upon the PLANK； Bewick used a
graver； and worked upon slices of box or pear cut across the grain；that is
to say upon the END of the wood。 The other difference； of which
Bewick is said to have been the inventor； is less easy to describe。 It
consisted in the employment of what is technically known as 〃white line。〃
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In all antecedent wood…cutting the cutter had simply cleared away those
portions of the block left bare by the design； so that the design remained in
relief to be printed from like type。 Using the smooth box block as a
uniform surface from which； if covered with printing ink； a uniformly
black impression might be obtained； Bewick； by cutting white lines across
it at greater or lesser intervals； produced gradations of shade； from the
absolute black of the block to the lightest tints。 The general result of this
method was to give a greater depth of colouring and variety to the
engraving； but its advantages may perhaps be best understood by a glance
at the background of the 〃Woodcock〃 on the following page。
Bewick's first work of any importance was the Gay's 〃Fables〃 of 1779。
In 1784 he did another series of 〃Select Fables。〃 Neither of these books；
however； can be compared with the 〃General History of Quadrupeds；〃
1790； and the 〃British Land and Water Birds；〃 1797 and 1804。 The
illustrations to the 〃Quadrupeds〃 are in many instances excellent； and
large additions were made to them in subsequent issues。 But in this
collection Bewick laboured to a great extent under the disadvantage of
representing animals with which he was familiar only through the medium
of stuffed specimens or incorrect drawings。 In the 〃British Birds；〃 on the
contrary； his facilities for study from the life were greater； and his success
was consequently more complete。 Indeed； it may be safely affirmed that
of all the engravers of the present century； none have excelled Bewick for
beauty of black and white； for skilful rendering of plumage and foliage；
and for fidelity of detail and accessory。 The 〃Woodcock〃 （here given）；
the 〃Partridge；〃 the 〃Owl；〃 the 〃Yellow… Hammer；〃 the 〃Yellow…Bunting；〃
the 〃Willow…Wren；〃 are popular examples of these qualities。 But there
are a hundred others nearly as good。
Among sundry conventional decorations after the old German fashion
in the first edition of the 〃Quadrupeds；〃 there are a fair number of those
famous tail…pieces which； to a good many people； constitute Bewick's
chief claim to immortality。 That it is not easy to imitate them is plain
from the failure of Branston's attempts； and from the inferior character of
those by John Thompson in Yarrell's 〃Fishes。〃 The genius of Bewick was；
in fact； entirely individual and particular。 He had the humour of a
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Hogarth in little； as well as some of his special characteristics；notably his
faculty of telling a story by suggestive detail。 An instance may be taken
at random from vol。 I。 of the 〃Birds。〃 A man； whose wig and hat have
fallen off； lies asleep with open mouth under some bushes。 He is
manifestly drunk； and the date 〃4 June；〃 on a neighbouring stone； gives us
the reason and occasion of his catastrophe。 He has been too loyally
celebrating the birthday of his majesty King George III。 Another of
Bewick's gifts is his wonderful skill in foreshadowing a tragedy。 Take as
an example； this truly appalling incident from the 〃Quadrupeds。〃 The
tottering child； whose nurse is seen in the background； has strayed into the
meadow； and is pulling at the tail of a vicious…looking colt； with back…
turned eye and lifted heel。 Down the garden…steps the mother hurries
headlong； but she can hardly be in time。 And of all thissufficient； one
would say； for a fairly…sized canvasthe artist has managed to give a vivid
impression in a block of three inches by two！ Then； again； like Hogarth
once more； he rejoices in multiplications of dilemma。 What； for instance；
can be more comically pathetic than the head…piece to the 〃Contents〃 in
vol。 I。 of the 〃Birds〃？ The old horse has been seized with an invincible
fit of stubbornness。 The day is both windy and rainy。 The rider has
broken his stick and lost his hat； but he is too much encumbered with his
cackling and excited stock to dare to dismount。 Nothing can help him
but a Deus ex machina；of whom there is no sign。
Besides his humour； Bewick has a delightfully rustic side； of which
Hogarth gives but little indication。 From the starved ewe in the snow
nibbling forlornly at a worn…out broom； to the cow which has broken
through the rail to reach the running water； there are numberless designs
which reveal that faithful lover of the field and hillside； who； as he said；
〃would rather be herding sheep on Mickle bank top〃 than remain in
London to be made premier of England。 He loved the country and the
country…life； and he drew them as one who loved them。 It is this rural
quality which helps to give such a lasting freshness to his quaint and
picturesque fancies； and it is this which will continue to preserve their
popularity； even if they should cease to be valued for their wealth of
whimsical invention。