The Express.
London, England, 1849-10-30 00:00:00

FINE ARTS.

Paurrixo mom PRINTS. Moot persona are aware
at beset of the existent* of the Anastatie printing proem, by
which engravings, printed pages, Re., ore t ran. fern d to zinc ur
stone, and thus faccimiles are very readily produced. The
process condos esseatielly of the application of certain bodies
which possess the property of softening the ink upon the
paper; after which it is "set off" upon the stone or zinc.
Our attention haa been directed to a process by wh eh mele-
es, Tenho are obtained by means which are curiously op,
posed to those employed in the Ansetastie process. We
(the Athetteseet) are Wormed by the inventor, Mr. Pettitt, of
Birmingham, that be prepares the paper on which is lb.
engraving that he desires to copy with some material which
actually hardens the printing ink—but which at the same time
musts any of the white parts of the perm from receiving
ink. The print beleg in this state, ia subjected to an ink-
ing process by which every line of the engraving, lithograph
or wood-cut receives a fresh layer of ink—end from which a
faithful copy may now be obtained. We are told that as
many as 60 impreesiene have been taken from one print with-
out fajuring the original. If thoroughly successful, this inven-
tion of Mr. Petite appears to promisemany advantages. The
inventor, who is engaged in the decoration of papier mache
materials, proposes to employ hie discovery for producing on
glass copies of flae works of art, widish he afterwards paints
and oraameate in a way peculiarly his own. We have as en
tome of these works: the effect is very singular, and not un-
plearing. Considered u the Are efforts in a new line of
dreorative art, they ]re of eassiduable i remise: and we
think that if Mr. Pattitt would direct his attention to per.
bete; hie proem so as to 'noble him to copy with fidelity
first class Use 'agreeing., he might obtain the power of in
teethed/1g specimens far lees objectionable in point of taste
then the unnaturally-coloured paintings which now decorate
the papier oketd manufactures of our country.
INJORY TO • PICTURE IN TUE VERNON GALLERY.
—We sr* sorry to hear of a misfortune which has befallen
come of the pictures the property of the nation in Trafalgar.
square. This pieta'', the work of Mr. Hart, the Royal
dietician, forms part of the Vernon Collection—and was in
coarse of being engraved for publication when the accident (if
that be the proper same)esearred. It appease that—contrary
to the directions ender which enpaven are permitted to week
in this gallery—the engraver in this instance, in
his ToLcittechned bb labour by pressing the threads
his frame spinet the picture intrusted to
him ; by w premiere the materials employed in the
painting have become disintegrated—we are given to under-
stand, beyond the chance of recovery. As we have said,
this is a very serious matter,—and summons time whom
it may concern to look to the risks run by the national
We know not the name of the engraver who
ticatutra abused the privilege conceded to him; but it is
clear that he mast not again be admitted, on any pretence,
to poetise his art wither the wells of the National Gallery
—nor elsewhere to any dealing with the art-property of the
nation.—Athessesess.

Usi Or COLOURED GLASSER TO ASSIST THE VIEW
its Foos.—Thu following curious observation is made by if.
Luria!, of Turin, in a letter to the editor of L' Isar ihor at
Paris. If it be verified, it may prove to be of importing:a to
geodettealoperatkiss, r well u ta observations at
" Wheat there is a leg between two eorreeposding stations,
se that the are whoa east with difficulty be seen from the
other, if the *Waver passes a colored glass between his
cue arid the eyeliiree of his teleseope, the effect of
the fog is very sensibly diminished, so that fre-
quith'y the sigaida from the other stall= ma be
very plainly perceived, when, without the *gourd
glass, the station itself guild not be seen. The
different colours do not ell produce this Abet in the urn
degree. The red seems the most props: for the experiment.
Thom who have good sight prefer the dark red, roes who
are siert-sighted like light red better. The explanation of
this West Deems to depend upon the fast that the white
011141 M 4111 the fog strikes too powerfully upon the organ of
sight, ispeilly if the glass have a somewhat line field. Oa
the eestary, by *Wag a eolound ease between the eye
sift *same end the eye-glue of the isetrunent, the ill.
tem* Ili the light is mach dimiahhed by the Interception
of a poet of the rays the obaseuVe eye is less wearied,
Who less, sad sessequatly distinguishes better tbe sate
linesslSlts °Weed sissessed.—Jleshaniee/tegessine.