Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1905-10-21
ART OF THE ENGRAvER
Dew elopment Shown in a Col
lection of Prints.
INTERESTING EXHIBIT
RECENT GIFTS TO THE LIBRARY
OF CONGRESS.
Works Presented by French and Ger
man Governments Displayed in
South Curtain of Building.


Congress there is now set forth a most
comprehensive and interesting exhibition OF
prints selected from the collections pro-
sented. comparatively recently, by the
French and German governments The
Wrench are restrikes from the original
plates in the photographic du Louvre. and
the German facsimiles of prints in the
Berlin Museum. The former came in cour-
tcous response to request for prices and
samples; the latter unsolicited at the close
OF the ST. Louis exposition. They consti-
tute the first exhibition to be displayed
in the new cases which have been added
i'll the past summer to the equipment OF
the print division and mark the reopenin2
or the south curtain gallery to the public.
This hall is one of the most imposing in
the library building, and the cases, which
are two stories in height and provide both
for the preservation and exhibition of
prints, are OF original design and in them
selves of unique interest.
The German facsimiles have been given
space in the cases to the left of the corrl-
dor as the visitor approaches; the French
In those to the right. Both exhibits have
been arranged according to schools and in
chronological order. The German in time
of execution come first, and therefore, IN
an intelligent study of the subject. present
d prior claim to attention.
Works Of the Fifteenth Century.
Among the earliest examples are works
by Martin Schongauer, who lived in Col
mar, Germany, between the years 1929 and
14SS, and vino is supposed to have studied
with Roger van der Weyden, who in turn
was probably a pupil of the Van Eykes.
There is nothing very positive about the
record, but in those days the traditions
We're passed along from man to man with
consistent accuracy. To modern eyes theEe
Is perhaps little to suggest art IN the gro
but it must be remembered that art was
then still the handmade of the church, sun
primarily subjective and chiefly pedagogy
cal. The majority of people could not OF
did not read the written language, anu
therefore were most surely approached
through one of pictures. Hating as the
utterance of these artist-teachers was, 1t
was we must all confess, unequivocable.
and for its truth and sincerity 1t deserves
respect.
Schongauer's wood cuts set forth prin-
cipally religious themes; such. for example,
as THE Nativity" Christ on the Cross,
The Baptism of Christ and The Iempsa-
ton of St Anthony" Theologically they
seem today somewhat extraordinary in con-
ception, but they do undoubtedly reflect
the doctrine of their time
Treatment Generally Heavy.
Judging from these and other engravings
of the same period the religion of that day
must have been somewhat fearsome; the
people of that day somewhat heavy and dull
of comprehension. The engravers and their
public seem to have been profoundly seri-
Gus. and vet it is true that occasionally one
comes across CLINT of unmistakable humor
which is both modifying and delightful rms
levity is however, at ali times SO solemniy
introduced that the question naturally
arises in the Observers mind whether or not
it was accidental or Intentional. Lucas
Cranach's woodeut of The Repose IN
Egypt" shows, for instance, the Holy ram
lily resting Beneath q tree, surrounded on
the green by n circle of dancing cherubs.
So far the traditional type was followed,
but there the engraver apparently revolted,
for. CHANGING upward, one Will discover on
a bough above the Virgins head two of
the celestial youngsters gleefully robbng a
birds nest. There IS also. curiously enough,
a fifteenth century print which sets forth
in sober seriousness Woman Bea ting
Mana shrew belaboring meekly amused
gentleman witt, hot broom, but a spindle.
Some of the objects portrayed are ex-
ceedingly complicated and many. while
simple in themselves, are weighted down
with elaborate decorative borders. There
is a picture of THE Tournament of 1506'
which comprehends in its composition sew
eral hundred figures, and there Is an ALE
CORY of the Activities of DR.. Jacobus Cas-
trious," so involved in import that 1t is
was that worthy physicians practice to kill
or cure his patients. Among the curfosities
there is. moreover, marvellous windmill
engraved by Eustachius Foschauer, about
1913 as An Allegory of Grammar" Its
approach is up the steps of 'Conjugation"
and on its four balconies may be seen, fig
uratively set forth, the parts of speech.
Dame Grammar welcomes her guests in her
doorway, and on the ground to the left
rooster and hen are Growing and clucking-
"htc hac, hoe" Beneath the picture, in
doggerel rhyme, Is complete explanation
and description of the monumental work,
for the enlightenment of innocent
childhood. But it is of course, not all mer-
riment. Many of the works are not only
clever but scholarly, and show, together
with painstaking work, keen intuition.
Early Engravings on Metal.
Among the earliest of the engravings on
metal are several series of exceeding small
pictures done during the sixteenth century
by George Penez-one illustrating the Sew
en- Works of the order of Misericordia,' an
other the parable of the "Prodigal Son" and
a third the myth of the "Labors of Her
cules." Albrecht Altdorfer and Hans Burck-
mair-painters as well as engravers, the
latter pupil OF Schongauer's-are both well
represented. and the Little Masters" Of
the earlier schools, who are remembered,
not by their names, but by their initials
have some excellent works to their credit.
Development Of the Art.
II is peculiarly interesting to note. through
the chronological arrangement, the gradual
development of the art; to observe the
gradual refining of lines and equitable dis
tribution of masses; to see how. as the
knowledge increased, the useless rubbish
which cluttered the early compositions was
swept away and a straightforward SIM
plicity instituted. Not only the German,
but the Dutch Flemish, French, English
and Italian schools represented, and 1t
is peculiarly interesting to compare the out