SKETCHING BY MEANS OF SKETCHING GLASSES
Year: 1884

page_text: I, MICHAEL EDWARD ROWLANDSON, M.A., Oxon., Priest, Angl. Eccles.; Wonford
House, Heavitree, Exeter, Devonshire, do hereby declare the nature of my invention
for SKETCHING BY MEANS OF SKETCHING GLASSES to be as follows:-
My invention consists of two frames or pedestal stands,' 1st a wooden grooved
frame, enclosing a pane of glass, surmounting a tripod pedestal, on which glass the
sketch is made. 2ndly Behind the above instrument a frame consisting of two
stout ash poles, with 'head rest,' 'body rest,' rope & plug, from which frame a
person at perfect rest sketches nature, as seen through the glass pane, in perfect
perspective, with oil brush, or gold size &c.
In fig. I, A represents a grooved oak, or hazel-wood frame, two feet square,
containing a pane of glass, E, on which the sketch or painting is made of the
objects or view, as seen through it. B is a card-board cover to protect the glass.
C is a wooden 'nut' or 'pedestal top,' on which the frame A is screwed by the
screw 'S.'-D, D, D, are the three pointed legs of the pedestal, hinged on to the
nut C, six feet long each.
In fig. II, A represents a 'slip-bar,' or 'padded forehead rest' sliding into two
ash poles (each six feet long) C, C, pointed with iron, against which, when fixed in
the ground, & supported by: the rope F & plug G, the person sketching rests; his
chest is also supported by the rope E, passing. between the two 'speeds' D, D, each
about 18 inch. long. B is an 'eye-shade' to fix on bar A, with a wire &
cork"
q," to fix the true point of sight': this last apparatus is to enable a
correction by 'true perspective' to be made within doors. The drawing on the
glass can be made in oils,' or with 'gold size' &c.

page_text: > ">
I, MICHAEL EDWARD ROWLANDSON, M.A. Oxon, Priest, Ang! Eccles; Wonford
House, Heavitree, Exeter, Devonshire do hereby declare the nature of my invention
for "SKETCHING BY MEANS OF 'SKETCHING GLASSES and in what manner the same
is to be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the
following statement and accompanying drawing:
My invention has for its object a novel arrangement of apparatus by means of
which a drawing of any object or landscape may be made in perfectly true
perspective in a very short time.
The apparatus consists of two frames or supports, one used for supporting a
transparent plate of glass, upon which the drawing is to be executed, and the other
for supporting the head and body of the person who is using the apparatus for the
purpose of making the drawing.
The first frame or support consists of a tripod stand having three legs, preferably
of wood hinged to a top plate or block which can therefore be adjusted and
supportéd, at any desired height and position. This top plate or block has a
transverse groove upon its upper surface in which fits freely the lower edge of
a separate rectangular vertical frame of wood into which can be easily fitted a
plate of glass upon which the picture is to be drawn.
The tripod described is adjusted until the glass is in a proper position in front
of the object or landscape which is to be drawn, and behind it at a suitable distance
is arranged a second support consisting of two sufficiently strong legs, preferably of
wood, hinged together at the top and their lower ends separated and fixed in the
ground in a line about parallel with the face of the glass plate. These two legs are
nearly vertical in side view, and from their point of junction at the upper end a
sufficiently strong cord or stay extends backward, its outer end being firmly fixed
to a peg or fastening in or on. the ground. Near their upper end a transverse
adjustable stay is fixed, horizontally across the legs by screws passing through slots
in its ends and screwed into the legs. This stay is also preferably of wood, and
has a curved recess (which may be padded) near the centre of its length upon and
against which the person sketching rests his forehead so as to remain as nearly as
possible in the same position.
A
At a point, sufficiently below the cross stay or head support just described, a
strong arm projecting backward is screwed or otherwise fixed to each of the two
hinged legs, and to the ends of these two arms are fixed the ends of, a rope or
flexible band the length of which can be adjusted as desired. A cross bar or back
stay of wood may also be screwed to the ends of the projecting arms, strengthening
and staying them together and serving as a support.
The apparatus is used in the following manner-The glass plate being adjusted
in the desired position upon its support, and the apparatus last described being
arranged at the required distance bebind it, the sketcher leans forward with his
forehead supported against the curved rest, and his body by the rope or flexible
band, and the point of sight or position of his eye being thus definitely determined
he sketches upon the surface of the transparent glass the object or landscape-to
be drawn, exactly as he sees it through his glass, and in perfect perspective.
The sketching is perfectly done with a pen, or oil or other brush, having a
bandle of sufficient length, the material used being gold size, chinese ink, or colours
of any suitable kind, the rough though true sketch thus obtained being afterwards
elaborated on tracing paper, or by copying, or other means, pictures of the same
size or enlarged or reduced being thus produced. Or colours corresponding with

page_text: those seen through the glass plate may be laid upon the latter with brushes,
a representation correct in colour as well as in perspective being thus obtained.
The accompanying drawing is in illustration of my invention, and shows the
apparatus as described fixed ready for use.
a is the frame, containing the plate of glass e¹ upon which the sketch is to be
made. c is the top plate or block having a groove into which the frame a fits and
is fixed by the screw 8.
The three legs d, d, d, support the glass, their upper ends being hinged to the
plate c, and being arranged so as to be as steady and free from vibration as
possible.
e, e, are the legs of the support for the sketcher, hinged together at f and held
by the stay rope g the outer end of which is fixed at h. The padded forehead
rest i is formed on the cross stay k which is screwed to the legs e, e, by screws l, l,
passing through slots in the stay. m, m, are arms screwed into the legs e, e, and
carrying at their outer ends the cross bar n, and the cord or flexible band o against
which the artist leans, as already described when at work.
The legs of the supports may be stayed by additional stays or supports if
necessary.
In order more definitely to fix the exact point of sight from which the sketcher
views the picture through the glass, I sometimes use an eye shade fixed upon the
bar & in front of the sketcher and having a wire, with a small central hole to fix
the true point of sight; and by this means a correction by true perspective may be
made of the sketch at any subsequent time.
The apparatus may be modified more or less in its shape and size. For instance
where great portability is required, the apparatus supporting the sketcher may be
made of sufficient strength for the purpose without the projecting arms and back-
stay, and the support for the glass may consist of a single leg the point of which
is forced into the ground for a sufficient distance.
A separate case may be used to carry the glass when not in use.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said
Invention, and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what
I claim is:-
1. The combination of the support carrying a transparent plate, and the support
by which the point of sight of the sketcher is retained constant, substantially as
and for the purpose described and shewn in the drawing.
2. The combination of the hinged legs e, e, the stay rope g, and adjustable
headrest k, forming the support for the sketcher's head, substantially as described.
and shewn.
3. The projecting arms m, 'm, and rope or flexibe band o forming a support for
the sketcher's body, substantially as described and shewn.
Dated this 20th day of December 1884.
EDWARDS & Co.,
Agents for the Patentee.