The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1883-10-13
Portland Society of Art.

Our readers should remember that the exhi-
bition of the engravings at the Art Rooms will
close this evening. Nov that we are nearing
the end of this exhibition, we are enabled to
measure the interest it has created among our
art-loving citizens. Up to noon of yesterday
above 600 people had visited the rooms to ex-
anime the collection. The influence of such
an exhibit must be permanent in its nature
and far reaching in its effect, Installing in
many minds desire to study the history of
engraving and examine the beautiful speci.
mems which can be found in our art stores and
art collections. This particular exhibition has
peen rich in excellent specimens OF the engrav-
er's art, in its infancy, its height, and again in
its decline.
we see here an example of grand old Lucas
van LeSden mo. 49,, who did missionary
work, 80 to speak, in the field of engraving,
the influence OF which has been felt through
all the years that followed; while the wood
cut executed by him and shown in this collec-
ton, would not attract especial attention now
a'days, 1t is valuable az showing the status of
the art in those days, (1513) Another beauti-
ful specimen, is that of Goltzius. "The Bow
aud the Dog'-an extremely, finished piece of
work which is really charming We mass nm
10 sns me portraits by Delft, particularly num-
osrs and 9, which are Interesting as showing
tne progress made in the art of engraving and
pruning during the century which elapsed be-
tween his time and Lucas ivan Leyeen. Di.
rectiy over tho specimen by Delft, will be
found some foe examples of the famous old
Dutch engraver Visscher. Here again we
nave an opportunity of examining the pre-
gress made in engraving and printing during
the next hundred years. The magnificent
print of Jan de Pep" by this artist mo 75).
is particularly admirable. So also is the en-
craving by the same artist, entitled, I'll Van
Coppenol," No. rs, which is from the Vrees-
wijk collection. After the lapse of another
hundred years we find the works of the ia
NOUS George John Willie (No. 82). Willie,
like Gerard Dou, was one of the most pains
taking of artists; and while the works Of many
others may please as more, yet we cannot but
admire the skillful workmanship OF one.
whose excellence as an epgraver and teacher
enabled him to establish a very popular school
of engraving. Fifty year, later we see the de-
cline of art in No 3, "Hobein,n the work of
boA bo4o11i. <OblCodDl6 nero Is GQ6 CnaD26 IN
the requirements of the times-despatch rath-
or than merit-and the producing of tawdry
effect with the eost outlay of time, seems to
have been the prevailing characteristic. A
close examination of this portrait at once dis.
closes the "sketchiness" of the work of his
time. Following Bartolozzi, we come to the
works of the artists of the present day. The
portrait of jules Roman, BY Fred Weber,
(No 3D. and Of Mime. Recamier by Jules JAG
quet. Here, too, VS. observe the apparent re-
csssity for quick work, which impelled the ar
lists in the production of these pictures, the
backgrounds of which are made by machinery.
comparison Of the backgrounds of these en-
cravings with the more finished and conse-
quently more perfect work of the artists of the
preceding period will we'll repay examination.
AT We pass along to the French school of
art-engraying, we are interested with the
beautiful examples of Edelinck "Cham-
pag ne" No. o. which shows mastery hand
ling o. the engraver's tools, and is one Of the
most speaking likenesses in the exhibition.
We find many others to admire for their beau
tiful execution and many faces to look at that
representative OF the most illustrious person
ages For instance No 81, Nine. de la Val
iere, and No. 26, Julius Hardoin Mansart
architect and from whom the term "Mansard
roof comes. From the same artist also we
find a portrait of the painter Rigand mo. %,
and Nanteuil, the engrayer, (No. 28), Francis
Toriebat, the painter of the King, (No 29),
and Nc. 81 aud 80, Colbert and Frederick
Leonard. We find Drevet, tho younger, rep
resented By No. 20, "Bossust" "There stands
the powerful defender of the Catholic church,
master OF French style and most renowned
pulpit orator ia France, In episcopal robes
with abundant lace, which is the perpetual
envy OF the fair who look OF this transcendant
effort" By the side of this engraving we find
No. 10, Charles Gaspard Dodun. The beaati-
full rendering of the lace BY the artist is inss-
terpiece CT art in itself. Drevet, the elder, is
represented by No. II, Jean Baltazer Keller,
subject which is rendered most artistically
MassoD is represented by No. As, G. de
Brisacier. This picture presents to the eye,
one OF the most charming and poetical engray-
ings 10 the exhibition; the subject is known as
"tLe gray haired man. When we consider
that every white line in copper plate engrav-
ing can only be prinled when tho plate is
raised where the white lines are to be found
after the printing, we can appreciate the Won
derfnl deicacy of the work OF this engraver
in the rendering OF this subject. No. At, by
the same artist, known "a the Count
d'Harcoofr, Or the Cadet Of tho PEARL
Is also beautiful work OF art
A careful! examination Of this picture shows
the extreme minnteness of the artist ia every
detail, especially in the little hairs that SEEM
ingly have dropped carelessly oyes the pearl in
the ear Of the subject. Then we have '.Napo-
leon," By MoFghen, No. "a, which is well
worth study. Louis XVIII, By Massard, No.
40, and 'Napoleon," by Louis, No. As, are
beautifu specimens OF decorative engras ing,
and should be studied together. The "Por-
trait" by Pitteri (No. co., is curious in its
way. 1t shows an attempt en- the part of the
artist to introduce new school OF engraving,
By skillful handling of the graver's tools the
aim evidently being mere to produce effect
than to execute the work in a really artistic
manner.
We had quite forgotten to call attention to
the beautiful examples of the work of Nan
teuil, especially shown by No. 81, "Pomponne
de Bellevue OF this, Dr. Theis says:
"Oolor and life shine through the skin, and the
lips appear red"
large humber visited the rooms yesterday
to avail themselves of the opportunity of see
ing the press, exhibited through ths courtesy
OF Mr.. Lowell. the art dealer, who gave a
practical illustration Of the method of print
ing etchings and engrayings. Mr.. Lowell will
again exhibit and operate the press this eve
rip ha aIa rfa ;ol,f IS A.
Electric and Power Company, which has prov
ed great convenience to the visitors. is still
in the room, and will remain till the close of
the exhibition.
Scarboro.
A new dskiag company, formed under the