Richmond daily times. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1853, 1851-01-16

llOll 1~reo7t, 10 prove
DR.. Spooner's scheme of restoring the copper
| plates from which Boydells famous illustrations
of Shakespeare were struck, an imporsture and
humbug. AS we have taken some interest in
these prints, and are perfectly open to conviction
with regard to the correctness of the ''curlous
history which we copied from the Now York
Commercial Advertiser, we have weighed with
some care the Examiners objections. These
we tind pertain rather to the truth ofthe account
given of Boydels great enterprise, than to the
actual merits of DR.. Spooner's impressions from
the restored plates. The true history, according
to the Art Union, as condensed by the Eransiner,
is as follows:
The true history of the celebrated series of plates
known as BoydeIs Shakespeare il this. Messrs Boyde
constituted publishing house in London about 1886.
| Boydel dealt in engrayngs and among many other
similar projects undertook series in illustration OF
Shakspeare's plays. For of these he employed
the eminent artists OF the day to paint pictures. His
speculation W it'll great sale though sufficient
to clear him profit. So when the work was comple-
ted, in 1904 he applied TO Parliament for leave to
dispose OF the prints and pictures remaining on his
hands, by lottery. Leave was granted. 20OO0 tick
cts were isued at three guineas each; "every ticket
not obtaining capital prize being entitled to print or
prints from the remaining stock to the value OF one
disposed Of. The plates then transferred to
| Messrs. Hurst and Robinson, and afterwards to
Messrs. Moon, Boys and Graves, OF Pail Mall. London.
BY these several hands they were worked and work.
ed until they were completely worn down and became
vaueess; when they were thrown into the market as
old metal, sold SUCH found their way to the Capital
| OF Humbrg and into the hands of DR.. Spooner-who
had them vaped up by such artists he could find will
ling tor the work, and proceeds 10 ornament the par
or OF the Great American people herewith at dol
| lar per print
! Now it is here conceded that the copperplates
brought over to this country by DR.. Spooner, are
the original plates of Boydel 1t isalleged, indeed,
that when the Doctor purchased them, they were
completely worn down, and were bought by him
as old netal But this is nothing to the point, for
| DR.. Spooner distinctly states that when the plates
came to his possession, they were too much worn
to be used. He does not explain, in his little
pamphlet, how he became their owner, but the
statement that he bought them old metal, is so
probable that we have no doubt of its truth. The
whole merit which he claims, and which it Isl M
portan for the public to determine before patron
izng his scheme, consists in the success with
which he has accomplished the restoration of the
worn out plates, and this is matter ofwhich eve
ny one must Judge by comparing the impressions
from the restored plates with those made by the
same plates in their original condition. If the
comparison satisfies the observer that the new
| Impressions SO faithfully retain the spirit of the
original, then surely no dicta of the London Art
Union should deter him from gratifying his taste
by procuring the former We do not profess to
be very critical Judge in such matters, but it is
certainly our opinion, after quite close examine
ton, that the American impressions are remarka-
bly, accurate reproductions of the English. But
for the freshness Of the American paper, we doubt
whether our neighbor of the Examiner, connois-
seur though he seems to be, could distinguish them
apart; certainly there are many of the prints produ
ced by the retouched plates which would be esteem
ed fine engravings in any collection. Upon this
point of the possibility of American artists restor-
ing the worn plates and the actual success of the
experiment so far as it has gone, the judgment
of the most distinguished critics in New York has
been pronounced in DR.. Spooner's favour. If it
| were sheerly ridiculous, as the London Art Lasen
would make appear, to attempt such aprocess,
| gentlemen of such taste as Washington irving,
VIM. Cullen Bryant, and John Inman, would
hardly have given DR.. Spooner their testimonials.
Butwe admit that nobody ought in these days
to stake his judgment on the certificates of others
for they have VIGOROUSLY become "dirt-cheap," or
as cheap, perhaps, as "Boydels old copper plates }"
Let every lover of pictures visit the collection now
on exhibition at Morris & Brothers. bookstore and
determine for himself whether the American prints
are worth the money asked for them. 1t is not
difficult 10 divine motive which the organ ofArt
in London may have to run down this singular
American speculation 1t was undoubtedly one
of the smartest Yankee tricks eyer perpetrated to
buy for song the discarded plates of the best
ries of engravings in the world, and reproduce
them in all their originalxslue. il these go nd
United States The Art may ver7 aturg
ally indulge in fit of mauraiSe homie at The bare
idea that such feat could be successfully achie-
we'd. These plates, if really restored would now
be of almost priceless value in England, and the
thought that shrewd American has outwitted all
the amateurs of the old country, may well be in
toerabe to their critics, who habitually derde our
country as being not yet out Of the backwoods of
barbarsm AZ2$Ae<S
AS to the An E4ste,t.s corrections of the New
York Commercials "curious history of BoydelI
and his engravings, we cannot well make up
judgment without fairly hearing both Sides 1t
unquestonaby seems, upon the present showing,
that the Commercial was sadly mistaken in some
Gifts facts, and how far It's errors may be atribu-
table TO misrepresentation by DR.. Spooner we
cannot determine. We do not perceive a suffl- |
Client inducement for him to procure the publica-
tion of false accounts of Boydells plan, the diff
culties that attended it, and his circumstances |
when he died. But all this, we repeat, does not
affect the question whether the prints taken by
DR.. Spoon er from the restored plates are worthy
of patronage. The genuineness of the plates
themselves being acknowledged, it is simply
question of critical taste whether he has sue