Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1880-04-13
THE SCRIBNER PRIZES FOR
wooD-ENGRAvING,s s@7o'l J,

WOOD ENGRAVING, ,"7.', .1.l..,. :. :
The American superiority in the mat
ter Of wood-engraving having been recent
ly widely recognized in England and
America, the editor Of Scri5n~, in April
number, with desire to stimulate the art,
offers several premiums, for works BY pu.
pills. in the following article: "'
One Of the sad things-almost the on
ly sad thing-connected with the tremen-
dous popular interest in art thst has been
developed in America within the last few
years, is that there are multitudes engag-
ed in its study with the utterly futile
hope that in some way they can make il
source Of livelihood to them. How
many women there are at this moment
painting porcelain, and dreaming Of re-
turns, who never realize penny from
their enterprise, the public will never
know, but the number is very large. The
young man or young woman in the vari-
Gus art-schools. learning to draw, are most
Of them looking forward to q life Of remu-
nerative art work which will never be ac-
complished. Lacking invention, genius,
originality, they will not sell, and they
will be much disappointed.
The marvel to US is that so few, in the
presence Of notorious facts suggesting op-
posite action, should think of becoming
engraven upon wood. The busiest peo-
pie we know Of in the United States are
wood -engravers. We do not know of
one who has not all he can do, and more,
too. Every good engraver is busy up to
the measure of his strength and even the
commonplace and poor engravers have
their hands full Of commonplace and poor
work, of which there is an enormous
amount done in this country. There is a
vast field for this latter work in all sorts
Of illustrated catalogues, and second and
third rate periodicals.; and the field prom
ices to become larger rather than smaller.
We feel that art-schools themselves are
much at fault in not providing facilities
for teaching this branch Of art-work, and
the very first thing for them to do is to
establish classes in wood-engraving under
competent masters. There is no question
that good engraver on wood can get q
good living. There is q good deal ofques-
ton as to whether an excellent painter
or sculptor can get his bread by his work.
Pictures are lu1uries, while engravings
are in the line Of great business enter.
prizes that demand and must have them.
There is prejudice among artstically
inclined people against the work Of the
engraver. 1t is widely regarded As pretty
purely mechanical, but, in these days, it
takes an artist to engrave, and men can
make great regulations in the art-world
as engravers. Mr.. Linton, Mr.. Anthony,
Mr.. Cole and Mr.. Marsh are eminent
men-men as. well and favorably known
as the best of our artists, and known for
the same reason, viz: that they are art
lists.
In order to attract attention to this
most important field Of art-work, we
have concluded to offer three premiums
to pupils for the best work as follows:
500, s75, and $50, respectively, to the
first, second and third best specimens Of
wood.engraving, produced and sent to
this office any time during the present
year, 1880. by.pupils in any art-school
or under any private teacher in the United
States. We shall need to see only proofs.
accompanied by the teachers certificate
that the pupil submitting them is in
reality pupil who has never done en-
craving for the public or for pay.
We propose, as the board Of judges,
Mr.. Alexander w. Drake, superintendent
of the department Of illustration in
Scribner's Monthly and St. Nicholas, Mr..
Timothy Cole, practical engraver of the
first rank, and Mr.. Theodore l.. De Winnie,
who is probably the best printer of wood
epgravings in the United States. We
can assure all competitors that they will
have at the hands of this board compe-
tent and fair treatment. Its decision
will be rendered Jsnuary lst, 1881, and
the awards will be promptly made. In
case any pupil wishing to compete has
really done unimportant work for pay
he or she shall send proofs Of it. and the
Judges shall decide at discretion whether
it is important enough to vitiate the claim
to be considered still 9 pupil.