The Liverpool Standard and General Commercial Advertiser.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1855-12-18 00:00:00

[DEci mBER 18, 1855.

carry its weight of argument with all those who are capable
of forming a right judgment on the subject. It is this
classes of engravings are not adapted -by their very nature to
all classes of society ; the class suited for the mansion is veil
often not suited to the cottage, nor is the class suited to the
cottage adapted for the mansion. But more than this, there >s
a principle that high class art lowered too much destroys the
production of high class again. If the high class of engroP
ings referred to were customarily to be made cheap plates, °
before mentioned, it would go far wholly to prevent the PI:
ductions of our best artists being engraved in that way of which
they are- se-iv_ortlay, by the eminent engravers who bar
furnished to the country such splendid specimens of their,
talents, and for these reasons : —The cost of some of oar tines'
plates has often involved in the prodution of each plateanolt
lay of four, fiVe,--or more thousands of pounds ; the cost, ifltu
its fair profit, can only be obtained back by a considerable
price for the impressions from the plates : this price can oil
' be paid by the wealthy—they are the patrons of the work. Ji;
the same work is to be made hereafter common, inferior, an
cheap—a few shillings instead of pounds—because, though
the same subject, it possesses none of the fine qualities of the
original, these patrons, that would be, cease to purchase them
at the high prices. If the high price demand ceases the cost
cannot be obtained back ; if the cost cannot be reimbursed the
undertaking cannot be entered into ; and thus high art, 101/'.
ever high it may be, so far as engraving is concerned, will_f°
smothered in its birth, and such noble and beautiful sPe'
mens of the graver as we have now for some years past be
accustomed to gaze upon with so much pleasure will cease to
be produced.
It was upon a due consideration of the points which I have
endeavoured to set forth in this letter, that I destroyed the
twelve beautiful plates which have caused so much sensatiettl:
The plan seemed to me to combine three leading good Poiaia
—first, justice to the patrons of art who had bought at ni',
prices ; secondly, an opportunity for nearly three years pas',,
and still existing, for purchasing good impressions of-
works at very moerate prices ; and thirdly, the sustaining")
fine art in its essential reputation and character.
With my best apologies for the length of this coming-131r:
tion, I can only say that I shall feel greatly obliged by the in
sertion of it in your mighty record.
I am, Sir, your most obedient servant,
467, Oxford-Street, Nov. 13. TnomAs
NOTE.—The Twelve Plates which were destroyed, and aic
referred to in the above letter, and in the numerous letters °
the same subject inserted in the public press were as under:
mentioned : The Waterloo Banquet, painted by W. Salter;
engraved in Line by W. Greatbach. The Christening °'
Princess Royal, painted by C. E. Leslie ; engraved by. H. c:
Ryall. The Queen Receiving the Sacrament, painted bYl,,i
R. Leslie; engraved by S. Cousins. " Shoeing"—The Stnit'f;
Forge, painted by Sir Edwin Landseer; engravad by
Lewis. The Smithy, painted by Sir E. Landseer ; engraveo by
C. G. Lewis. The Sanctuary—Large Plate—painted by Sir I
Landseer; engraved by C. G. Lewis. The Sanctuary—S,ef
painted by Sir E. Landseer ;- engraved by C. G. Lewis. The r'a:eej
Return from Hawking, painted by Sir E. Landseer; erlo°.
by S.Cousins. Crossing theßridge,painted by Sir E. Lands.e"„,:,
engraved hi Line by J. T. Wilmore. The Deer Stalaero,
Return, painted by Sir E. Landseer; engraved in Line
G. Lewis. Christ Weeping over Jerusalem, painted by
Eastlake ; engraved by S.- Cousins. The Three Htinw'''
painted by Sir E. Landseer engraved by C. G. Lewis.