Evening star., 1938-06-12

the way, an associate member OF the
Royal Academy and marine engraver
to his majesty the King of England,
also engraved the handsome print
in this collection representing the
victory of the British squadron over
the French feet at Camperdown, Oc-
tober IL, 1877.
OF particular interest Is the print
which shows the attack Of the British
on the Danish fleet OF Copenhagen
April 2, 1901, engraved by p. w.
Tomkins after painting by J. r.
Series. who was marine painter to
the King and craftsman to the
admiralty, very talented and success
full, but, ruined by the extravagancies
OF his wife, became a bankrupt and
died in one Of the debtors prisons.
This onslaught of the British on the
Danes at this time is, in the eyes of
most historians, one of the blots on
the history of Great Britain, although
the admirals In command acquitted
themselves valorously. One of these
was Lord Nelson, destined later to
become the hero of Trafalgar, at
which 1t will be remembered he lost
his life.
THE one print which has to do with
an exploit-a tragic one-of our
American Navy pictured the engage
ment between the British ship Shan
non, commanded by Capt. Broke, and
the United States frigate Chesapeake
under Capt. Lawrence, of Boston,
June l, 1918, which terminated is
minutes after it was begun by the
Chesapeake striking her colors and
her commanding officer being killed,
bidding his men with his last breath
not to give up the ship. Both vessels
carried SO guns and were quite fairly
matched. but Lawrence had q poor
crew, several thousand of our sea-
faring men being at that time in
Dartmoor Prison, and Broke's crew
was experienced and trained. This
engraving is after q painting by
Robert Dodd, who was especially sue
cessful as a marine painter and In
representing storms at sea.
In some instances men were, in the
18th century. both painters and en-
gravers and found profit In engraving
their own works. Such was William
Daniel, who Is represented in this
collection by a print entitled Kent
Indiaman on Fire in Bay OF Biscay,"
painted and engraved by himself.
Daniel. who incidentally was an ex-
ceptionally successful aquatinter, was
the nephew Of Thomas Daniel, author
and publisher Of Oriental Scenery"
work in six volumes, elaborately
illustrated by drawings by the author,
engraved by william, his companion
in travel to India and elsewhere. This
is very interesting and effective
print. exhibiting more painter-like
quality than the majority.
Mention so far has been made
chiefly Of British prints, but not the
least interesting In this exhibition are
those OF Dutch artists, such as Dirck
Stoop Of Utrecht and Willem van de
Velde of Leyden, both of the 18th
century. The works of these men
are simpler, bit more conventional,
but not less graphic than those to
which attention has been directed.
In fact. they approach more closely
the works of the great printmakers of
the Old World So excellent were Van
de Velde's marine paintings in black
and white that Holland oficially
placed a vessel at his disposal from
which to witness and record all i'm
portant sea fights. BY Charles II he
was induced to 60 to England and
become marine artist to the crown
position which he continued to
hold under James las in after years
did his son-Willem the younger. The
latter is credited with having painted
329 pictures of naval subjects and
having produced over 5000 drawings.
In his prints he commonly placed
the name of each ship and its COM
mander above its topmast and put his
name on the front Of the vessel from
which he witnessed the engagement.
A MOTHER interesting and famous
artist represented in this collec-
ton is Bartolozzi. son of goldsmith of
Florence. who learned engraving of a
master in Venice. He went to England
In 1854, was appointed engraver to the
King at q salary Of $500 year and
not only produced prodigious number
OF plates-among them THE Death Of
Chatham" by Copley, and 'The Tragic
Death Of Capt. Cook" the latter In
cluded in the current exhibition-but
also exerted a very excellent influence
on the art OF the younger engravers
in England.
Not all the prints in this exhibi-
ton are Of sea fights-some are pri-
marily of the sea in its many and