The Portland daily press., 1883-04-19

Inc remarkaple collection OF etchingS and
engravings now on exhibition in the rooms of
the Art club deserves a careful and thoughtful
visit from all who are Interested in art and art
subjects. Here nearly all of the great artists
who have used the etcher's needle are repre-
ssnted-and represented by remarkable copies
Of their works Probably never before in Port
land have the people had such an opportunity
to view so large a number of early and impor-
tant copies of these etchings. Here we find
works of Durer, Rembrandt, Marc Antonio
(whom Raphael employed to engrsve his work.
Etchings by the great French artists Corot,
Fortuny Jacque, and the English school is rep
resented by the famous etchers Whistler,
Segmom Hayden, Law and others. To name
all of the important pictures to be found here
and the names of the artists represented would
fill the space We desire to occupy with another
thought. We are frequently asked what is the
meaning of the different expressions used in
describing etchings and engravings, namely,
'Remarque proof" ARTISTS proof p ''proof be-
fore letters etc.
1t is only few years that Remarque proof
have been known. They represent the earliest
copies printed from the finished plate and are
distinguished sometimes by a small etched
portrait of the painter and etcher, etched in
the border Of the print-sometimes by small
flag, sometimes by one device or another as
suits the artists fancy, seldom are as many as
fifty copies printed before the remarque is re-
moved, generally not over twenty-five. All
copies printed in this manner are critically ex-
amined by the artist and those not perfect in
every respect destroyed; hence in purchasing
these one not only has the best that can be
printed from the plate but copy endorsed as
such by the artist. The great value OF these
prints comes from this great care in printing
and selecting.
Artists proofs, in modern engravings and
etchings are the earliest class Except in late
years Remarque proofs as explained above) 20
impressions, and considered the next most
valuable, or the most valuable is before the
age of Remarque proofs" Prior to about the
year 1850 they seldom bore descriptive letter
ing under the design, except the name Of the
painter in the left hand corner, that Of the en-
graver in the right, and dated publication time
or imprint in small letters at foot. Since that
time, however, modification has been made
by emitting all lettering under the design
sometimes on English publications the publish
ers imprint and date of publication alone ap-
pearing in small and unobtrusive letters at the
left Of the print and close to the design.
Proofs before letters on india" paper bear
the names of the painter and eDgraver In the
left and right hand corners.
Proofs before letters on plain paper have
lettering same as those on India" paper
By "lettered' proof" is meant a proof bear
ing the full letteriDg-that is, a description of
the subject. including name OF painter, en-
graver, publisher, and date Of publication.
The lettering is sometimes scratched in round
hand on the right lower corner Of the plate or
| it may be in ordinary open print letters In out
lines; examples in the later state are sometimes
termed "open letter proof"
Before the prints on India paper are printed,
each letter forming the Inscription receives a
line through the center: the decoration line, il
any, is also generally added.
| By prints" Is meant the ordinary state Of
| the plate, the same as in the prints on India
paper but printed on plain paper.
| The imprints, or signatures ON eDgravings
and etchiDgs In addition to the descriptive let
| tering are, on The extreme left, the name OF
the painter or designer, and on the extreme
| right that of the eDgraver or etcher.
"First state, second state" "thrd state"
"rare state, /" "anique state" and 50 on are in
connection with prints, terms constantly used
by enthusiastic collectors and dabblers In art.
The meaning Of the terms are very vague and
| mysterious to mauy people who yet have no
| doubt that the print described as Of a certain
state must be valuable. 1t is argued that
"state' implies an early impression which Is
true but il this be the only advantage the col
lector who is incapable Of telling an early and
brilliant impression from a late one would be
wise in retiring for the present