'-'^N, '/ fe.- ^p Wt 1 1 1 THE ART fl OF 11 GRAVEINGv 1 dnd II ETCHIJSTG^ 1 ^a^herein u exprefb the II true %ouy ofGraueitia' irv Copper, r allso \ 1 i ' tj . The manner ^method. of thatfamous CALL OX i£J^.B OSSE. inthetr SeueraU^wcv^s ofutchinoi PVBUSHF.D ^Y i WIzf^EAiTHORNJE. M Andfo Id at his Shop ncxttoy.S^neM 1 1 1 ' 1 ,P^^ : . _^e: ?^ \ To the Right \Wor{Kipf^^^^ Sir "^h^rP .^M^K^ni^^^ tie Honour of halping Jer'P^d. his hte Majefiy ( under your Con- dud^ in the Garrison of ^dXin^^: hath given me jome refutation in the Worlds arid the happinej[e of having jerV'dyour felf ^before the Warrs^ hath given rne a Condition of living in it. in bdth^ under the T^-girnent of your Com- mand . pu changd the fietl of my Tools into Weapons , and the exercije of my Arts into Arms ; when the ferVice of the King challenged the duty of his Suhje^s^ youthen prompted me unto Loyalty : that JerVice unhappily ending ^you re-advifed A a 4 returne to my imployment: the whole caurfeofmy life^ haying thus in feme meajure been an OhJerl>ancy of your Di- reSiions , U whom jhould I dedicate the l^ues of my Labours in it ^ but to you : and haVingnow to prefent my Ceuntrey with jemething 4f ufe, profit^ and delight^ tak^e occafionby thefe to f^eal^e my grati- tude^ and preferTe to my J elf the hmmr ^f continuing what ihaVebeeny Sir^ Tour humble and ,y, deypt^df^r^ant^ William Faithornc; r# To the Lovers of this Artl iHave had the thoughts of c-tifhes to publifti this enfumg Treatife of Graving and Etching 5 becaufe it hath arrived to fuch an height in thefe our latter times, as it becomes a fit fub- jeft for our Kingdomes knowledge and pra- dice* We need no other witnefles to con-^ firm this truths than the Works of thofe fa- mous Matters, the Sadlers^Gokzius^ Bleumartj Mellan^ Natalis^ Pontius y Poilljy &c* And as for Etching^we are obliged to that Renowned Callot^ and his Difciple Bofle 5 who hath not only pradifed^but alfo hath been fo courteous as todifcoverintheF/fwfc Tongue3this Art unto his Country men. I have ufed him as an Author in this Work) yet 1 have not traced him fo clofely as to make ir a meer Tranfla- tion ; but added (omething 3 making ufeof what I thought neceffary ; So as (I hope) I am neither fo tedious as to be troublefome^ nor fo fhort as to be obfcure. I fhall not trouble my felf to fpeak in the Commendation of this Art, but (to thofe that may feem to detraft from it ) give me leave A a only only to fay thus muchtthat^the refult of Ayre, theSymetrie of parts ^ the exaft harmony of proportions^ oflights and Shadows, may be performed to the height in Graving.Therfore I recommend it to publick view^hoping of it's fair Rece prion by all Lovers of Arts ^ which is the utmofl aim and expectation of IT. F. To MHMMMnMMB*i To my ingenious Fricad M'. famorneQh his Book. Sffould I attempt an Elo^y^ or frame A Papef Hrakare tofecure thy Name ; The lightmng of one cenfure^ me ftern frown Might quickly hazard that ^ and thy renown. But this thy Book prevents my (lender pain. One Linefpeaks purelier Thee^ than my be^flrainl Thofe My^eries {once like the fpight full mold 7hat bars thegreedie Spaniard />o/» his Gold) Thine ingenuitie reveals ^ and fo By making plain^ thou dofl Jlluftrtous grow. That handy whofe curious ArtprotraBs the date Of frail Mortalitiey and baffles Fate With Brafs and Steely can furelie potent be To rear aflatelie Monument for Thee. For my party /prefer (to guard the Dead) v>f Copper Plate y before a (beet of Lead, So long as Brajje^fo long as Books endure ^ So long as neat-wrought Pieces ^ Thourtfecure^ A Fairhorneiculpfic is a Charm canfave From dull Oblivion y and a gaping Crave ^ T. Flatman: An Index c!ire£i:ingto the feveral Sedioils I contained in this Book. HOa^ to make the hard f^armfb ^ for gra- vingwith ^c\U2Lionis. Page i. \ Jlorv to rnake the Compofttionor mixture ofCreafe end Oyly to cover thofe places in pur Plate where jou would not have the Aqua fortis to eat in. p. 2. Hovp to prepare the Ingredients for making the Aqua tor CIS for the hard rarniffj. p. 3 . Hovp to make this Aquafortis. p. 3* How to know good Copper from had^ p* 4. Bow to plant fh and polifh your Plate, p, 4. How to apply your hard f^arnifh on the plate , and make it hlack. p. 7* How to dry or harden the Farnijh upon the Plate. p. 9. How to chufeyour Needles ^v^erewith to makejouf Tooles to Etch with. p. 10. How to whet the points of jour Needles, p. 10. To preferve the Farm\b upon the Plate, p. 11. How to Etch. p. II. How tfi guide your Needles upon the Plate, p^il. How to ufe the Oval points to make large flrokesin Etchi^gor Graving with Aqua for- ds, p. 14* Horn How to frep(ire yeur Plate to receive the Aqua fortis. p, 1 6. Hojv tomake the Trotigh and Frame ^ to hold the plate when you mil four the Aqua fortis on it. p. iS. ThemA»n€r of capngthe Aqua fortis ^pon the plate ^ as alfo how to cover the Places , that are fainte^^ andmoft remote fromthe eye ^ with tfje , forementioned mixture , as occafion fhall re- quire, f. 1$. How to take' the ground^ or the Farm fb off ihe Plate^ After the Aq\X2iioLiis hath done its ope- ration^ f*25* OffoftVarnifti, How to make it^ the ufes it is to he put to. p.ij The manner of laying your fo ft Ground or Farnijfj upon the Plate. p.iS. How to border your Plate ^ that it may contain the Aquafortis. /'♦S^. The manner how to lay a white ground upon the hard or [oft Farnifh, P • 3 5 • Another way [how to lay a white upon the Var- ^ifh. p. 38. Here followeth the manner after that your Plates are eaten into hy the Aqua fortis ; how to touch up^ orregrave that which happily you may have for- forgotten-^ or that which jou would amend or fup^ ply. p. 39' Of Graving. The fever al wayes of drawing the defgn upon the plate. ;;. 41. The forms of graving Tooles^as alfo the manner of whettingyour Graver, ^.4 ; , The manner how to hold your Graver^ with other particulars. ?• 45- The manner of governing your hand in Graving^ and other particulars. p. 47, FINIS. The Art of Graving. with Aquafortis. Scd. I. Howt0 make the hard Varnifb for en- graving rvith Aqua fortis. TAke five ounces of Greek pitch, or ( for wane of that )Biirgiindypitch5five ounces of Roziii of TyrCjOr CtUfonium^ov for want of that) or- dinary Roiine : Melt them together upon a gentle fire in a new earthen pot, well varnifhed, or leaded, and being very clean: Thefe two things being firft melted, and well mixt together, put into them four* ounces of the beft Nut Oyl j mix them well together upon the fame fire the (pacex>f a full half hour, and let them boyl well ; Then let this mixture cool a lit- tle upon a To fter fire; and afterwards, touching it with the end of your finger, it will rope ( if it be boyled enough ) like a glewy Syrup. Then take the pot from the fire, and ( the varnilh being a little more cooled ) ftrein it through a fine Linnen cloth, or Tafiata, into a well varnifhed earthen pot ; or elfe put it into any thick glafle bottle, or any other thing that will not drink it up, and ftop it well.Var- nilh thus made will laft twenty years, and it will be the better the longer it is kept. It is reported of Monfeur CMty that he had hisvarnifh fen t him ready made from Ita/jjwhidx was made there by the Joyners, who ufed it to var- B uifa 2 The Art of Gravinf nidi their work : They called it Vermes grsjfe it Ltg- TjAtolj: He gave fome to the Author, which he ufed a long time ^ but fince made ufe of the varnifh where- of you have a defcription before. Seft. 2. How to make the ctmf^fiuen or mixtMre ofgreafe and eyl, u cover thofe fUces iu your pUte^ where jou wohU not hdve the Aqua fortis to eat iff. TAke an earthen porrenger well leaded 5 put into it a quantity of Sallad oyl, and fetiton the f re, and when the oyl is hot, put into it a quan- tity of Candiles-greafe ^ when that is melted, take a pencil and dip it in, and let a drop or two fall on a plate, or any cold hard thing j and if the drops be a little hardened and firm, it fheweth that the mixture is well made. For you may judge, that if it is too liquid, it is berraufe there is too much oyl; and if fo, then you muft put in more greafej and by the fame reafon, if it be too hard, you muft put in more oyl : having made it in this manner , boyl it well the fpace of an hour,that the oyl and the greafe may be well mixed together, and that you may perceive them of a reddilh colour, otherwife they will be apt to feparate, when you fhould ufe them. The reafon why you melt the oyl, and the greaf< together, is to make the greafe more liquid, and noi cool too faft : for fhould you melt the greafe alone. you (hall no fooner take it up with the point of youi pencil to carry it to the place where you would uf< it, but it will grow cold. Put in a greater quantity of oyl in Winter^ that an Summer. Sea 5. n^hh Aqua foitis. 3 Sea.3. H^nftoprepitn the Ingredients for making the Aqim foitis for the hard varnipj. THe Aquafortis is made of Vinegav, Salt Armo- niack, Bay-falt, and Vert de griz. The Vinegar muft be of the beft fort of white- ^ wine Vinegar 5 but if it be diftillcd, it is the bet- '' ter^ and not fo fubjeft to break up the varnifh. The Salt Armoniack muft be clear^ tranfpaient, ivhite, pure^ and clean. The Bay-falt miift be alfo pure and clean. The Vert de griz muft be clean, and free fi-om any fcrapings of brafie. Tlie Salt Armoniack and Vert de gri? are corn- monly fold at the Druggifts. Se£^.4. How to make this Aqn^ foitis. TAke three pints of Vinegar^ fix ounces of Salt Armoniack, fix ounces of Bay fait, and four Dunces of Vert de griz j or of each according to .his proportion, as you will make your quantity nore or lefle : put them a;i together in an earthen A 'Ot well varnifhed, large enough, that it may not J^ 3oyl over : Cover the pot^ and put it on a quick jjjl ire, and let it fpeediiy boyl two or three great J iralmes and no moi-e : When you perceive it ready ijfi o boyl, and not before, uncover the pot, and ftirre i t with a little ftick fometimeS, and take heed that jj|i t do not boil over : Having thus boyled it two or I :hree great walmes, take off the pot from the fire, , , ' nd let it cool 3 but keep the pot covered, and ^' B 2 \vhet1- 4 The Art 9f Graving when it is cold pome it into a glafle bottle, and let it ftand (topped a day or two before you ufe it: and if you (hall find it too ftrong in [the etching, poure into it a gla(re or two of the fame Vinegar you made it of. C Se£i:. 5. H$w to k^wgeod Cfpfcr from tdd. Opper is beft for graving with a Graver, or A^udftrtij ; Brafle is too brittle. That Copper is beft which is free from flaws^ and not too hard, v^hich you may perceive by its yellowilh colour, ai- moft like brafle: & if it be too loft, you may fome- what perceiv it by its too much pliablenefs in bend- ing. \Vhen you are to make uie of it, you (hall per- ceive ( in that which is good ) a firm,yet eaiie forc« in tne enti ing of your graver : and that Copper which is belt for graving, is aifo beft for etching. Seft. 6. Howtoflan'ipjdn^feliJhjtHr Plate. IJ Ere in EngUnd you muft buy your Copper rea dy forged from the Brafiers. It is not necefTary, that they which delire to en grave (hould forge and polifh their Copper them jfelves, but becaufe in divers places there is not conveniency of having it ready poli(hed, I have thought fit to fet down the manner how it may be done. Thofe Plates which you intend to forge and pla- ni(h yvith Aqua fbrtis. 5. .fh, miift he fully as thick as an half-crown, be- .ufein tlieir forgeing and planiftiing they will be- >me fomewhat thinner. You mufi: planifli your opper cold, as the Silver-Smiths do their Plate : lid the more it is beaten or planifhed with an mmer, the firmer it is, and lefle fubjeft to holes flaws. Your Plate being well planifhed, make choice of t fmootheft fide for polifhing : Before you begin polifh it, fix it upon a board ; and when you po- 1 it, let your board Q to which the plate is fixed) nd a little declining or (loping. To polifii your Plate, take a piece of a Grind- ;-ftone about the bignefle of your fift, and fair ter, and rub it firmly, and evenly all over ; and yonv rubbing throw water often on it, and con- ue fo doing, till you cannot perceive any dints, flaws, or marks of the hammer : Then wa(h it m with water ? Afterward take a good Pumice- le, and rub the fame Plate with it and water,till re appear none of the rough ftroaks, or marks the ftone : Then walh it clean with water, as I did before. \gain, do the fame thing with a fine fmootfa ui and water, till all the marks of the .'Pumicc- leare quite rubbed out: This done, wafli it m with fair water. rhen choofe out a Chark-cole fmooth, without ^ knots, or rough grain, and put it in a wel- idled fire : let it be there, till you may perceive red hot ; Then take it out of the fire , and mediately quench it in cold water j Then c it out, and pair off the uttermoft rind, and B q lub 6 The ArP •/ Graving rub your Plate with it, and water, till all the fmall ftrokes of the Hone be rubbed out : If the cole be naught, it will only Aide upon the Plate, and net rub out the ftrokes. After you have thus polifhed it with a Chark- cole, if you perceive any fmall ftroaks, or fcratches on your Plate, then take a well-hardened piece of fteeljmade fomewhat round ifh at the end^ which is commonly called a burnifher , and with it rub thofe places firmly and evenly, where you perceive any ftrokes,or fcratches. When you have done this, wafh it clean, and dry it by the fire : and if by a- ny accident your Plate be foul or greafie, take the crummes of ftale bread, or fine-powdered Chalk, and rub your Plate over with it : The Plate being thus polifhed and cleanfed, is fitly prepared to lay on your Varnifh. Sea. with Aqua foitis. Scft. 7. Bow to apply jour hard Varnijh «rt the Plate , and make it blacky rAke your Plate thus clcanfed, and lay it on a chafing-difh with a little fire in it, and when X is indifferently hot, take it away 5 and take up fomeof the Varnifh with a little ftick, and put a i rop of it on the top of one of your fingers ; then lightly touch the plate with the top of your finger in feverall places at equall diftances ; as the upper- moft figure in the plate fheweth you, the fame be- ing marked with the letter O : and lay no more on Dne place then on another. And if your plate ■grow cold, heat it again as before, being very care- full to keep it from duft or filth. This done ( ha- ving well-wiped theflefliy part of the palm of your 'hand ) tap it upon the Plate, till all the little (pots of varnilli are equally fpread upon the Plate. (After this tapping, wipe or Hide your hand up- on the Varnifh, to make it more fmooth, and equal: Take great care.that there be not too muchVarnifh upon the plate, and that your hand be not fweaty; becaufe the fweat mixing with theVarni{h,wil caufe little bubbles, when it is applied to the fire, which will b«come little holes in the Varnifh. Your Varnifh being thus fmooth^d upon the Plate, the way to black it is thus. Take a great tal- low-candle lighted, which burneth clear; let it have but a fhort fnuff^ then place the corner of yoiu' plate againft the wall, with the varnifhed iide downward, as the lower figure in the Plate reprefents it to you. B 4 Take S 7'he Art #/ Graving Take heed that your fingers do not touch the Var*" nilh : tiien take your candle^ and apply the flame to the Varnifhjas dole as you can without touching the Van ufti with the fnuffe of the candle: guide the flame all over, till you fee it perfeftly black 5 keep it then from duft pv filth untill it be dried . Plate ij 2. Sea.S. with Aqna foitis. 9 eft. 8. How to dry, or harden tht Vdrnijh upn the PUtc* le a fire in a chimney of fuch chark-colcs as are not fubjefl to fparkling, and when they are (^ell kindled, range them in a fquare fomewhat lar- ;ei' than the Plate, as the letter P fhewethyou. Be- ore you place your plate to be dried, hangup 4 loth in the chimney to hinder and keep off any x)t or filth from falling down upon it, as yoii may ^e by the letters B C D. Then take your plate and lace it in the middle of the range upon two >w Andirons, as the letter O direfts : this done, Du will foon perceive the Varnifh to fmoke ; and hen you perceive the fmoke begins to abate, then ke off the plate from the Andirons, and with a ck pointed fcratch near the fide of your plate; and it eafily take off the Varnifh, then you muft lay it ;ain upon the Andirons for a little (pace : Then ke it off, and touch it again with your pointed ick, and if it take off the Varnifh not too eafily, len immediately take it from the fire and let it )0l. If the Varniih do much refifl the point of the xk, then pi efently throw on fome cold water on le back-fide of the plate to cool it, fo that the heat ■ the plate may not caufe the Varnifh tobe^oo ird and brittle. ^cdc.9. lO The Art of Craving Seft. 9. HoT» to choeft jonr needles rvheremth te maJ^ jcur tislj to etch with. Pl. 3. CHoofe fome broken needles of feverall fizes and bignefle^ fiich as break neat without bending, and of a fine grain. Then take round fticks of a good firm wood, not apt to fpljt, of the length of half a foot or fomewhat lefle, of the thickneffe of a good large quill: at the ends of which (ticks fix in your needles, fo that they ftand out of the flicks a- bout as much as you fee in tiie figure following. Sc£t. 10. How to whet the pints of j§ firneedles. THcrc are two wayes of whetting your needles, the one round, the other floping. You muft have an oyl ftonc with a fine 'grain to whet your needles upon. For thofeyou would have to be round, you muft upon the oyl-ftone whet their points fhort, not as your fowing needles are, but as the Figure (hews you. For the other which you intend to make (loping, firft upon theoyl-ftone make it blunt,then holding it firm and fteddily,whet it floping upon one (ide only,tillitcometoa(hort roundifti Oval, for the long Oval is not fo good to work with. You will need a foft brufh-pencill, to bru(h off the varnifh,which you work off with the ftrok«s of your needle, as isreprcfentcd by the Letter A, Sea. II. mth Aqua fortis 1 1 Se^, 1 1 . To frefervejour Varnifh npon the pUte. YOur plate beiiig varnifhed, place it upon a low desk or fuch like thing, and cover that pait which you do not work one with a fheet of fine white paper, and over that a Iheet of brown paper, where- on you reft your hand to keep it from the varnifh when you work. When you have occafion to ufe your Ruler to draw ftreight lines, lay fome part of it upon thepa- per,that it may not rub off the varnifh. But above all things have an efpeciall care that no" filth or duft gets in between the paper and the varnifh, for that will caufe fome holes and fcratches in the varnifh. Seft. 12. Heyfi to etch. IN etching you will have occafion to make divers forts of lines or hatches, fome bigger,rome fmal- lerj fome flreight,rome crooked. To make thefc you miift ufe feverall forts of needles , bigger or fmallerasthe work requires. The great lines are made thefe three feverall wayes, 1. By leaning harder on the needle, and the point being (hort and thick makes a larger paffagc; but the point being round it will not cut the varnifh clear. 2. By making divers lines or hatches, very clof« one to another, and then by pafllng them over again with a thicker needle; but this way is both too te- dious and withal 1 very difficult. 3. By making the lines with an indifferent bigg needle. 12 The Art #/ Graving needle, and letting the A^uafertis lie the longer on it. Thofe needles which you whet doping with an val, are the beft to make the large lines withalljbe- caufe with their fides they cut that which the round points cannot. Pl. 4. 1 Seft. 1 3 . Hfw to gMtdejotir needles ffpoft the f late. YOu may perceive from what is faid, thatthofc^ points which you intend to make ufe of^ irt graving with A^ua fortis^ ought to be whet exactly round, that they may turn more freely upon the plate. Some of thofe round points muft be whet very ftiarp, that they may cut the varniQi and cop- per more eafily. If you find that your point cuts not freely and fmoothlyj 'tis becaufe it is not whet ex- actly round. If you have occafion to make your lines or hatch- es of an equall bigneffe from one end to the other, whether they be ftreight or crooked, as tho'e two lines in the letters A B reprerents,youmuft,asrea- fo;i will tell you, lean on your point with an equall force from one ^nd to the othei*. If you would make your ftrokes thicker at one end then at the other ; as the fecond letters A B fhews you, then you muft lean on your point with your hand harder at the beginning, and by degrees lighter and liq;hter towards the end. If you w^ld have your ftiokes to be (iicii as are re- prefented in the third figure marked alfo a b, that is to (ay, larger in the middle then at either end, you muft lean gently at the beginning, & then by degrees harder and harder till you comp to the middle, and then A I a b Cl^ \> yfifb Aqua fortis. 13 then by degrees lighter and lighter till yoiicome to the end, Thefe three forts of lines or hatches may indif- ferently ferve for all manner of hatching your fiia- dowsinanydefignwhatfoever, as appears inthefi- gares, M N. OP. Q^G R. T E V. wherein is ma- nifcftj that the Ihadowing is but a reiteration of the fame ftrokes clofe one to another. If youdeiirethat your etching with AG- fture exprefs'd in the precedent figure^you muft tuni it crofle-wayes, as is reprefented in the upper part c^ the following figure marked C, and poure oil it as it lies that way ten or twelve times as before : That- done, tiu'n your plate fuitably to the pofturC ex- prefs'd by the lower part of the following figure a- fcrefaid, that is to (ay, corner-wife, and as it^liesfo, poure thereon eight or ten times; pouring the y¥«f//« fortis thus at fevcrall times, for the (pace of half a quarter of an hour, moreorlelTe, according to the ftren^h of tiae water , ^nd nature of the copper, C 2- For to 7 he Art tf GrAVtHg For if the copper be brittle and hard, there muft be the lefletimeallovvM for the pouring on of the water ; but if foft, the more. And whereas you may not haply at the firft be fo well afTured of the ftrength of your water, and the precife quality of your copper, it will not bea- mifle to give you fome directions how to know both, that you may proceed according to the ftrength or ncatnefle which you expeftto find in your work. For thereare fome pieces require more force , and fome more tenderneflTe then others. To know there- fore the nature of your copper, and the ftrength of your water, that they be fuch as the work you in- tend doth require, pom of it on your plate, for the firft time,as is befoie mention'd, for the fpace of the fourth part of a quarter of an hour. Then takea- way the plate, and cart on it a quantity of fair wa- ter, holding the pot at a good height from the plate, to wafti off the J^uaftrtish for if it be not clean wafli'd, the work v\ ill appear green, andcon- fequently, you cannot fo well perceive the operati- on of your A^ua forth. That done, hold yoiu' plate before the fire, at fuch a diftance, as that, without melting the mix- ture which may be .'upon it, the fair water may be dried up. Then take a little piece of charcolc, and therewith rub off the varnifh in fome place where the ftrokes are faint : and if you find that the Aijua /tfr/iV hath eaten deep enough in thofe faint places, melt your mixture, and having placM your plate upon a desk or eafell, take of the (aid mixture with a pencill fit for your work, and cover therewith all thofe places which you dclirc (hould be tender, and fiee with Aqua foitis. 21 free from any further operation of the jftfua fortisi taking greatxai'e that you beftow mixture thick c- iiough on the places which you would have covered* that is,that the mixture may fill up the ftrokes. And it is at this firft operation, that you are to cover all the fainteft and (wceteft places. Having held your plate fo long tD the fire that ths moiftiireisquitC'takenoff ( a thing only neceifary in the winter time) put it again upon your b^ard, and pom- on your water as before, for the fpace of a- boiit half an hour, turning your plate from time to time according to the feverall poilures, as is bsfore exprefiTed. That done, wafhoff'the AejM^ fcrtis vi\t\\ fair water as before, and diy your plate by the hre, taking efpeciall care that you melt not the mixture which you had before put upon it. Your plateJ^eing driM put it upon the desk or ea- fcll, as before, and having melted your mixture, co- ver therewith thoie faint places and hatches that are next in point of faintneife to thofe that you had covered before. The feverall degrees of faint nelfe in the hatches you have feverall examples of in the following figure. You have been direded befoie how to guide your needles and Ovall points, and I have told you how you were to lean ftrong and firmly on the places where you would have the ftrokes to be black and deep, and flack and lighten your hand where you would have them faint and tender, a thing which very much facilitates the operation of the Aqua fortis. For inftancc, when you have at the firft time with your mixture coverM that pait which is en- dos'dbythclinc A BCD. which makes a kind of C 5 .an 22' The Art of Graving ail Oval : you come at the fecond time to cover that fpace which is between the line ARC: and the line EOF. conceiving well, that having fuffeied the AifuAfortis to eat in for the time requilite, it will have an effeft fomewhat near that which you cx- pcfted. At the uppei' end of the plate you have the f jrni of a woman's arm, wherein you may perceive, by thelinemarked ab c d ^ as alfo by the other which liesyetnearer the (hadow, how the fmall hatches and fainter places are ordinarily covered at two fe- verall operations, as occafion fliall require ; though in the forcmentioned example of the arm, onetime covering might haply ferve. I have alfo thought fit at the bottome of the plate^ to fct down four feverall pieces of ground in land- skip, the firft marked m m m, is the firft covered, as being the fartheft of all from the eye, then at «- nother operation that marked n n n ; then that marked o o o : there being only that marked p, v;herein the Acjua fort is eats in full and deep. It may be objefted, that the light or hard lean- ing on the points in their proper places in working, may make the ftrokes and hatchings fo, as that the ^^^4/orf//may cat inanfwerably to your expeda- tion, without the trouble of covering any places withyom- mixture; To this I anfwer, that the work will not altogether have that effeft, but will be like the fecond plate, which I have purpofely made after that manner : for though you can lean harder on fome places, and lighter on others ; yet the u4iiuAfoYtis htmg'^owi^d equally all over the plate, dmingthe whde time^ it muft follow that fome places 1TL ^ with Aqua fortis 23 fhces will not be fo fweet and tender as they ought, and (hall come farre ihort of that beautifull and lively continuity which you may perceive in thofe lines [and ftrokes where you u/e the mix- ture. If it happen, that VThen you dry your plate by the fire to take off tlie moifture, as hath been faid before, that the mixture for want of care, do melt and run into thofe hatches and ftrokes where you would have the water to eat in further j wipe the place with a foft cloth, then take the crimi of ftale bi ead, and rub the place therewith till fiich time as you conceive you have taken off all the greaiinedc. This remedy is only appliable in point of extremi- ty 5 for you are to note, that it is impolLBie to take out thegreafefo clearly, but that it will fomewhat hinder the operation of the j^^na fortis. And therefore there muft be the more care taken to pre- vent it. Having thus coverM your places as occafion re- quires, for the fecond time place your plate on the board aforefaid, and pour on it your A^na fortis for another good half hciu' ^ That done, wafli it witfi water, and dry it as for- merly, and cover the places you. think requires it for the third time, for you muft know that the faint places are to be proportionable to, that is, more or lefTe, according to the feverall defignes and pieces you work upon. When you have done this, pour on your Aejtta fortis upon it for the laft time, and it is at this operation, that you are to beftow more or lefle time above the piecedcnt, according to the na- tiue of your work. C A. For 24 The Art of Gravtng For inftance, if there be in your plate fuch hatches and fhadows as require much depth and fuhieflfe, and confequently muft be very black, you are to pour on the Aifuafortis for thefpaceof an horn- or better at this laft operation alone, that is proportionably to the precedent. You may well imagine that there can be no certain rule given in generally either as to the convenient covering of the places, or the precife fpace of time that is to be obferv'd in cafting on the water: for it is not to be conceived that Caiiot pour'd as much wa- ter on his little pieces as he did on thofe that were g-reatcr. I told you before, how that you may rub ofTyour varni(h or ground as occafion requires, with a char- cole, to fee whether the water hath eaten in deep enough : you are therefore to judge of the fpace of time that you are to employ in pouring on the A^jua jform, by the~"worksyou are to do, and where I tell you that you may Bcftow an hour and better on the laft operation, my meaning is,in pieces that require much blacknefTe. All which notwithftanding, it is to be coniidered that all copper and all forts of jiqua fortis not being of the fanijs ftrength, na- ture and equality, you are to proceed accord- ingly. ^ Having therefore pour'd the AijHd fortis upon your plate for the fpace of an hour, more or leUe, as the work requh-es as is before faid, wa(h it again with fair water ; but you (hall not need to diy it as in the precedent operations ; but put it wet as it is upon the fire, till your mixture be all melted ; and jhenwipeit very clean on both fides with a lin- nen wi//? Aqua foitis. 25 ncii clothj till you have quite taken away all the mixture. Stdi. 1 8. How tjo t4ke the ground $r the varnifh tjf the flattj after the Aqua fort is hath done its eperatioft, TAke a char-cole of willovr or fbme fuch foft grained wood, and take off the rinde of it^and pouring fair water on the plate, rub it with the char-cole with an even hand, as if you were to polifh copper, and it will take off the varnifh. Be carefull that no dull or filth fall upon the plate; as alfo that the char-(ple be free from all knots and roughnefs,for it might occafion fmall fcratches in the plate which it would be difficult to get out, efpecially in thofe places which are moft faint and fweet. Note that you are not to u(e fuch a burnt coleas you do to polifh withall. . When the varnifh is taken off, the plats is of an unpleafant colour, by reafon of the operation of the fire and water upon it. To reduce it therefore to its proper colour, take fome ordinary Aquafortis^ to which add two third parts of fair water, and with a little linnen ragg dippM therein, rub your > plate all over, and you V{ ill find it come to its ordi- nary colour and b«auty. That done, take immediately a dry linnen ragg, and wipe it all over fo as to take off all the forefaid water. Then hold your plate a little to the fire, and pour on it a little fallad-oyl,and with the brims of an old beaver roU'd up, rub your plate well all over with it 3 then wipe it with a dry cloth. Thi^ 26 The Art of Graving This done, you will perceive plainly if there be any places that require to be touch'd with the gra- verj as it for the moft part happens, efpecially in thofe places that are to be mort black. For you may well judge, that when there aie many ftrokes and hatchings one clofe to another, there is ^o lit- tle varnifh between, that the A(lHa fortis commoiily takes it off, becaufe it eats under it. But if this happens when you caft on your wa- ter, you may prefently cover thofe places where you perceive the varnifh to break up with the mix- ture, it being much more eaiie to touch it after- wards with the- giaver, then when the A^na fortis hath made a pit therein, which at thewouking of it off at the preffe caufes a great black patch ; but after fome number of coppies taken off, the faid patch feems to be white, becaufe there is not any thing for the ink to faften on. Having therefore in good time cover'd that part, you have no more to do but to perfe<^ thofe ftrokes and hatchings to make them more firm and beautifull ^ which done, your plate is ready for the Roiling Preffe. Seft. wV A Aqua fort is. 27 SOFT VARNISH. Seft. 19. How to waks »>, ^»^the nfes it is to be put to. TAke an oiinc€ and a half of virgins wax, the beft and whiteftjone ounce of Maftick in te^rs^ I neat and pure^ half an ounce of Spaltum h grinde the Maftick and the Spaltum fcverallyvery fine; then melt your Virgins wax in ah earthen pot well lisaded^and wiien it is veiy hot^ftrew in your beaten Maftic*k all over, and ftir them together with a little ilick till fuch time as you may judge the Maftick to be wel incorporated with the waxj&after that ftrew in alfo the Spaltum, as you did the Maftick befoiey and ftirre the whole mixture together upon the fire, till the Spaltum be likewife well diflblv'd and mixt with the reft, which is likely to be done in the fpace of half a quarter of an hour ■■, Then take it off fr jm the fii-e, and let it cool a little; Tlien pour in tiie faid compolition into a bafin of fair water jand firft wetting your hands (which muft be very clean) in the water, take o it t the faid ip.ixture before it be quite cold^and having well moulded it to fqueer. out the water, roll it up into pieces about an inch diameter, and two or three inches long. You may if yon pleafe to make it the more free from any kind of filth, as you pour it into the ba- fin of water, pafle it through a fine liiinen cloth ; but it is as well not to paffe it through^ but after it is 23 The Art of Gravini . is moulded to wrap it up in a piece of fine liTinen cloth or Taffata^ two or three times double, and (b life it. ' You are not to put in fc much of Virgins wax in Summer as in Winter. There are feverall otiier compoiitions of foft varnifh that might he us'd, but tliis I judge to be the beft of any that I have found. Scft. 20. The manner %f Ujing jour foft Gronnd •r Vdrnijh upon thepUte- HAvingyour plate well polifht, and cleanfed from greafe, take the foft varnifh prepared as is before mentioned, and put the fiid plate over a chahng-difh wherein a moderate fire hath been kindled, and heat it in fuch fort, that the varnilli may eahly diflblve as it ^ pafTeth through that which enwraps it : The plate being thus heated, take the varnifh cover'dasa- ibrelaid^ and i^pplying it by the end of the roller, fpread it upon the plate while it is hot, carrying it lightly over from one iide to the other, untill the plats be covered thin and equally all over : this be- - ing done, and having a quill that hath a fmocth feather, take it, and with the broad iide thereof fweep it gently over the varnilh and fwiftly, to the end it do not burn. The firft time, the feathered end of the quill fnall cnely ferve to fpread the var- nifli over the plate ; but afterwaids make choice of another, the beft feathered quill you have, and go it over again lightly, that the varnilh may be ex- pended very equally all over the plate and very thin 5 Tvith Aqua fort is. 29 thin ; for when it is laid on too thick, your vvoi k cannot be fo fine and delicate as othenvife it would j and if the plate (hould cool, and confc- qiiently the varnifh, you niiift heat it a little again, to the end that it may receive the varniOi as it pa[^ ieth through the linnen. Alfo take great care, for your better cafe in the fpreading of it, that your plate, and by confequence your varnifh, happen not to burn : Which that you may the more ealily perceive, take notice, that when it is too hot it cafts it felf into little clots and pumples, by reafoa of over much heat of the plate. As foon as you have evenly fpread your varnifh up* on your plate,black it over with the flame of a can- dle after the fame manner as I have already menti- oned in fpeaking of your hard varni(h:provided on- ly, that the flame approch not too near;this is to be ;.done in one cafe rather then in ancther,and that is, when having blackt it all over, you perceive that the fmoke hath not entred within, by reafon of its gro^viiig cold : Therefore it will be convenient ro put your plate again over your chafing-difh, and you (hall fee, that as foon as the plate is hot, the fVarnifh will difiolve ; and by confequence.the black wliichthe fmoke hath left upon the varnith, will al- tJ'gether pierce as fane as the plate. Be carefuU above all, in doing this, to have a moderate hre,and ftill to remove your plate^in fuch ihit that the faid varniQi melt eqiwlly all over without burning. After that, let your plate cool, and when you fliall think ft to work upon it, place your de.ign a^ together after tUe fame manner, as upon your haid varniih 30 The An of Graving varnilhj (the backfide thereof being ritbb'd with the duft of red chalk) excepting onely^ that you muft not lean fo hard on with your point in drawinj the out-iines of your defign, left by fo doing th« needle cutting through the paper Ihould raze th( varnifh. Next you proceed to work upon your plate with the fame kind of points, as thofe which are mentioned for hard variiiflij excepting thofe Oval poi-nts, which many that etch with (oft varnifli never ufe : Nevertheleile they are verycommc- dious, efpecially for the working any piece of Ar- chitecture, or making of large ftrokcs ; and it is at the choice of thofe that grave, either to ufe them or not to ufe them : But there is one thing to be confidered, of which you ai-e to have a veiy great care, and that is, how to keep the fofc \ arnifh upon the plate, for it is very apt to be rubbed or razed off, if any thing never lo little violesit happen to touch it : There are feverall wayes of keeping it imhurt 5 for example, working upon the plain, or on a desk, you may have on the lides of your platu two little boards, of what bigJieile you pleafe, or •two little books of the fame thickneffe, and lay a- nother thin board upon them, fo as that it may not touch the plate, and reft your hand upon this board as you work. There are fome which work with th^ir plate laid upon a kind of Eafle, as a Painter doth when he paints ; but all men cannot fet themfelves to this manner of working, although it is very much ap- >roved of, for many reafons which hereafter fhall be alledgcd. To with nqiu tovtis. 31 ! Tc work upon the faid foft variiiih^ you muft jhandfomely place your board upon a desk, and then by a leaf of brown or white paper upon it ; fo as it be fine and fmooth it imports not much : Lay then your plate upon k. Afterwards take a linnen cloth without any kind of Seam, which hath been often put toother ufes, to the end it may be the more gentle and foft. Then double it three or fmu' times in foldS;, and Jay it upon yoiu' varnifh -■, whereon reft your hand^ as you ufc in like manner llieets of paper upon hard varnifti : And the reafon wherefore this caution is to be ob- fejved by ^you, is, left the buttons of youi' ;fleev€ iftiould rub off the varnifti. ! Eevery carefull , that there benoduft or filth ! found upon your varnifti :, if you chance to fpie any upon your plate, wipe it lightly off with fone of your large foft pencills , confidering [that there is much more care to be had for the (prelerving of foft varnifti then of hard 5 and that jwas the caufe which made the Author to leave -it toff, efpecially in pieces that required long time and much pains, it being much more ealie to make ra firm wiadijig-ftroke upon hard varnifti then upon' (oft; forasmuch -as the hardneffe of the varniih holds your point as it were engaged, which makes the ftrokes to be the deeper, and better, imitating the firmneffe and neatnifte of the ftrokes of a gra- ver. Moreover, when you are at work in foft vai - nifti, you muft have a fpeciall care, left anyotlier sperfoji then a pra«^itioner of your Art, touch or lintermeddle with your plate ; and if any kind of j^reafie matter happeu to drop iipcn it, your plate ! will 32 The An of Graving vv ill be incurable: but if it (hould chance to flili upon hard varnifh, you may then make it clean v/ith a linnen cloth , or crumms of bread. Thofe that work upon foft varnifh, if the}^ put their plate on a desk or eafle, they are not in fo much danger of rubbing off their varniOij nor do they need fo often to wipe away that which conies off in working ; for as much as the plate being placed obliquely, the fuperfluous matter tfalls away of it felf I have not thought fit to make any rc- femblance of it, fince it is not likely that any of thofe who intend to etch after this manner, can be ignorant how aPainter works upon an eafle^there being no other difference but onely this, that a Painter ufeth a pencill, and a Graver his etching- tools. The truth is, that the Aitift ought to reft his plate very firm, cfpecially when he is very in- tent upon the making of any exaft ftrokes. Ciillot wrought upon hard varnifh after the fame mariner, but it was to the end that his health might be the lefle impaired, fuppofing that to lit ftooping to his work ( though it were never fo lit- tle )vvould be huitfull to him. Sefl. 21. Howt9 border J 9 Mr plate ^ thdtitmaj contain Jew Aquafortis. GEt foft wax, either red or green ^ if it be in Winter,foften itatthefire;in Summer it wil be fufEciently foft of it felf : In the managing of it,put it round the brims of your plate, raifed about half a quarter of an inch from the furface of the plate, being as it were a little rampart 5 in fuch fort, as that I mth Aqua fortis. 3 3 that placing your plate very levell, and afterwards pouring your /f^«j forris upon it, the water may be retained by the means of this border of wax, fo aSjthat the water may be equally diffufed all o- ver; but beforcyoi pour it on (to prevent itsfo- king through between the wax and the plate) if needrequire, heat a little piece of Iron, and run itoverori*theout fide where the plate clofethwith the border. Havingchus bordered your plate, take common . Aqnafortisy fuch as^ is ulcd by the Refiners, pure and good^ and mingle it with common water, be- ing in qu'antity aboat the third part of your J^ua fortis'-, or if you have A^pta fortis^ of which you have made former ule in etching, mingle it with the pure AquAfcrtis in ftead of common water, and let the quantity be proportionable to the ftrength ;of iti then pour it gently upon the plate, in fuch. jfortasthatitmay remaiji upon it the thickneffepf half a fingers breadth all over : if you make uie of theftrongeft A ^na fortify be carefuU to mingle it with the greater quantity of common water. Then you (hall fee that the water will work and bubble up in thofe Wronger hatchings that are moft firmly ftricken ; as for thofe that are fainter you [hall perceive them clear at fii-ft, and of thecoloin- of the copper, the water Jiot making en a fudden my other operation than appears to view. Afterwards,, when you Ihall have perceived the water to operate a fmall time, pour it off from the plate into fomevefieli which is moft proper tocon- :ain ic, as into an earthen difh well varnifht, or the like, then throw fome fair water upon theplete,to D ex- I 34 The Art $f Graving cxtinguifh and wafti away the leniainder ofthcA^ua forWy which was upon the plate, then dry it by the fire^ as you have been taught before, whenwcdif^ courft of hard varnifti ; and as touching your foft varnifh and Jifua fertis of the Refiners, be carcfull in eipcciall manner to caufe to evaporate that moifture, which in the Winter time is commonly between the copper and the varnifti , befoi e you lay on your Acjuafortis : The fuperfluous moifturc being evaporated from it, take your mixture of oyl and greaie, as is before mentioned in the be* ginning of this difcourfe of hard varnifti , and therewith cover thofc places which ouglit to be moft tender and Iweetj and having coveied them the firfttime, lay on again upon your plate the fame ji^uafortis which ycu had taken away, and leave it on for one half quarter of an hoiu', or a longer time, according to your difcretion; then takeoff the Aquafortisj and cover with your mixture thofe next places, as you fti all fee occasion: And as you would have your lines or ftrokes to be deeper and deeper, (o cover the Tweeter part by degrees with your mixture, that the A^itta fortis may ly the longer on the deeper ftrokes. Laftly, lay on yet again the afoi efaid Aijua for^ fis^ and leave it on for the fpace of half an hour, cither more or lelTe atcoiding to the ftrength of the water and nati. re of the work, then take it away aud caft - ome fair water upon the plate again. That being done, takeoff yoir border of wax, then heat your plate, (o that the oyly mi^rture and the varnifh may throughly melt ; then wipe it well , with a linnen cloth, afterwards rub it all ever with a oyl; T99th Aqua fortis. 35 oyl-OIive, with a piece of old beaver roU'd up, and that being done, touch it over again with your graver in thofe places where it fnall be neeafull. One thing 1 (liall advcrtifc you of, wnich is^that while the Acfua fertisis upon your plate, you take a feather and dip it to the bottome o£ the laid A- ^uafortis^ fvvccping it along to remove the frcth or {cum which gathers upon your Ih okes or hatchnigs, while the Water makes its operation ^ as alio to givethemore way to the operation of the water, and to fee if the varnifh be not broke up, which the bubling of the water hinders you from dif- ccrnnig. You may alfo take notice that the Aqua fortis of the hard varnifh, will ierve excellently well to eat into the work made by the aforefaid foft varnifh, and that the manner of applying the oylymixtui-e, is all one with that of hard varnifli, and who ever ufcth it may be affur'd, that it is much more excel- lent for this purpofe than that of the Refiners ; Moreover, it is not To fubjeft to cauie the varnilh to break up, nor to many ether accidents, as the being hurtfull to the light, or to ones health, as that of the Rel^ners is, neverthelelic eveiy one may ufewhichof them he pleafeth. Se£i22. The manner how to laj a whin ground Hfo?t jour hMrdorfoftvarnipj, THereisa way to whiten your varnifhes upon the plate, in ftead of making them black wkh A candle, which is thus. When you have apply'd your h^rd varniih (as D 2 hath 30 The Art $fCrAVing hath been taught ) upon the plate^ harden it upon the fire v% ithout blacking it^ yet in the fame man- ner as if it were blackt, then let the plate cooU and having gotten white Ceruflc and put it into an earthen difti well leaded , with a little Flan- ders Starch in it 5 fet them upon the fire and meltthemtogether, making them pretty hot, that being done, take up the white CerufTe, which ought to be indifferently clear , with a brufti or great pencill of iioggs hair, and therewith whiteji your varnifh, laying it as thin and as even as you can) then leave it to dry, laying the plate fiat in fome convenient place •, and if by chance in white- ning it, the white be difficult to ipread, you need do no more, but put among the faid white CerufTe a drop or two of the gall of an Ox, and fo min- gle them together m the diih with your brufh. And for the foft varnifh, you (hall need onely to do the lame thing; after you have laid it upon the plate and extended it veiy evenly with the featherd end of your quills 3 Some will fay, that if they black it before they apply the white upon it, when they come afterwards to grave, the hatchings will be the more black, and by confequence will appear fo much the more diflindt to the eye. But to this I anfwer : Fii-ft, Thatwhenitisblackt, the white will not touch it, and that they muft not venture toputfo much p;all, for fear of fpoiiing the varnifh. Secondly,ThHt if the white fhould fpread wel,yet itwould not appear otherwifc then grey.by reafon of the blacking of the faid varnilh, unleire you (hould lay it fo thick that all would be nothing worth. The ypith Aqua fortis. 57 The marking of your defign upon Co ft varnifli, is performed with the duft of red chalk ( as is be- fore mentioned ) fpeakingof hard varniOij or with rubbing well the paper or delign with the duft of black chalk or black lead, when the varnifti is made white ; for red chalk is moft proper for a black ground. When you fliall have gravM that which you in- tend upon the foft: varnilh, and that you go about to etch your plate with AquA fortis ; that which you have then to ao, is to take a little fair water, fome- what more than lukewarm, and to caft it upon th« faid plate, and then with a foft clean fpunge, or with the flefhy part of the end of your finger, to rub upon the faid white Cerufle to moiften it all over ; afterwards wa(h the faid plate to take off the whiting of it, and then dry it. Laftly, you may lay on which of the two Atjua fortijfes you pleafe ^ and for the preferving of the faid white varnifh, while you are working, you (hall onely need to lay upon it a piece of foftlinnen inftead of paper, or • clfe of Damaskt linnen. If you fhall choofe rather to take away the faid whiting, you muft take fome A^ua fortis of the Refiners, tempered with fair water, lay it upon the plate, difperfing it all over, this will foke and quick- ly eat in, after that you have alfo thrown clean fair water upon it, having in this manner taken away the whiting, you fhall alfo let the water dry up, which fhall remain upon it, and laftly caufe it to eat into your work as I have faid before. 58 The Art of Graving Seft. 23. Another yvaj hew to Uj a rphite ufon joHr varrtlfh. TAkeCeriifTeof thcbeft and grind it very fine upon a done with fair water, that being done take gum-water, and pour a (mall quantity upon the ftone and mix it with the Ceru&jthen take a large pendll of hoggs hair or the like, provided it be not too ftiff, with that pencill take it off the ftone, and ipiead it thin all over your plate ; and immedii^te after , take a larger pencill made of long and very loft hair, either ofa Foxes tail, or Bears hair, and with a very light and gentle hand pafle it all over the plate, fo as to make it ly exa£l- ty ev en in all parts, that the ftreaks of the former bri.fh may not appear, then place your plate fo, that it may ly very even, and let it dry. By the way it v\ill be neceiiary to give you this advert! fcment, that you are not to mix too much gum with the white, jior too little ^ for if there be too mi'.ch it will break and crack the varnifh, if there be too little it will eafily rub off: therefore youm il: becarefuilto ufe neither more nor lefle than will tu{> ferve to binde the white upon the plate. Like;. ife you maft have a care not to lay it too t'nck, for if it be, you cannot work with that neatueffe and curiofity as otherwife you may. Sea. 24. with Aqua fortis. 39 Scft. 24. Here ftlloweth the manner , after that your plates dve eAten into hy the A(\\iz fortis, how 1 9 touch Hp^or re- grave that which haply JO0 maj havefir£6t* ten, or that which yon would amend or fufplj, BEfore I make an end, I thought fitting to (hew you the manner, how to touch over again ma- ivf things accoruing as need may require, by the means of /iqtta fort is ^ as when it happens that ha- ving made upon your copper any thing that doth not at all plcaie you, and that for this cm e having CO ered it with your oyly mixture, to tue end that the ^iffi^ f^^r^jv fhould not perform its operation,or thatyo ! woiddadd any ornaments either inDrape- ry, or any other thing which might bethought on, upon feverall occaiions. In this cafe theiefore take your plate and rub it over well with oyl-O- live, in thofe places where the e is any thing gra- ven, in fuch loit, as that the blacknelTe and foul- neife, which is likely to be in the hatchings or ftrokes may be taken away. Afterwards take out the greafe fo throughly with crumnis of bread, that there may remain no greafe nor filth upon the plate, nor in any of the ftrokes or hatchings. Then heat it upon a char-cole fire, and fpread the foft varnifh upon it with a feather, as hath been faid before. That which you are to take fpe- ciall care of is, that the hatchirg% which you would have to remain, be filled ,.v\ith varnifh: That being done, black it,and then you may touch over again, or add what you intend. And IaftK% make yoiir hatchings by the means of your D 4 nee " ri ' ■■'■ ^o The Art 6f Graving ncedls,according as the manner of the work (hall require, being carefull before you put on the Aauti fortis^ to cover with your o}^ly mixture ( as is laid before ) the firft graving which was upon your plate j for in cafe that the varnifh fbould not have entred ail over, that to be fure will : In (6 much, that if it (houid happen in fome places of the hatchings, there (houid be neither of the mixture . nor varnift, the ^qaa fortis would not fail to enter and fpoilall. Having then caufed the Aqua forth to eat into your work, take away your varni(h from yo r plate, by the means of the fire, as hath been (aid before. The -^.A' 41 THE ART OF GRAVING Seft. 25. The fever^U v^Ajes cf dramng your defign ftf&n the pUte. BEforc T fpcak of the manner of managing and whetting your Graver 5 I think it will not beamifletoletyou know the wayes that are ufed in the drawing your defigne upon the plate; whichmuftbeof the fame bigneiTe as your defig* or print is^ which you intend to copy. Put your plate upon the fire and let it heat a little, then take a piece of the wi.iteft Virgin-wax and fpread it thin over the plate, and with a fmooth feather gently ftroakit all over, to the end it may lie the more even and fmooth ; then let it cool. If you intend to coppya printed pifture, and that you would have it to piint off the fame way when it is graved, with your pattern ; then you ranft place your picture which you would grave, with the face or printed fide next to your plate, waxed over as is before mentioned ; and !?having placed it very exaftly, rub the back-fide of the print with a bur- nifh€r(orany thing that is fmooth and roiuid) and you will find that it will flick to the wax which is 42 The Art of Graving. is upon the copper : When you have fodonc, take off the print ( beginning at one iide or corner} but be carefull you take it not oft to haflily, for by lb doing you may tare your print or dcfign 5 and aifo if you put yojr wax to thick upon the plate, it will be a means tocaufethe fame inconvenience. But if you would grave it the fame way as your print or defign is, then take the duft of black^^ad or black-chalk, and rub the backiide of your draw- ing or print all over therewith, and place it with that fide fo blacked towards the plate ib wax€d, as is , before mentioned; and with your needle or drawing-point draw all the out-lines of your de- lign,andyou will find all thofe lines upon your plate ; but if you deiire to preicrve the backfide of your dt[\gn fiom being blacked with the duft before mentioned j then take a fine thin piece of white paper of the bigneffe of your dclign, and inllcad of rubbing the backfide of your print or deiign, rub one fide of the iaid^ paper with the duft or pow^der of black-chalk as is before mentioned ; and placing it with the i\dt fo blacked, next to the plate waxed, over-lay the backfide of your defign upon the paper, and fix them both firm to your plate at each corner with a little wax, then draw the out- lines of your defign : onely note , that you mull lean fomewhat harder with youi* needle in draw- ing. There are other wayes ufed for this purpofe, which I think needlefle to trouble you with , onely this I Ihall tell you, that in cafe you defiie to pre- ferve your defign from being any way defaced by. the marks of your needle ir* drawing the out-1 ines: take The Art of Graving 45 take a fine piece of white paper^and having oyled it> hold it by the fire^tothe end tlieoyl may fooner pe- netieteif, and having fo done wipe it very dry with a linnen ragg, and place the faid paper upon your defign^ making it fafl at each corner ^ and you will perfectly difcern your defign through the papery then with a black-lead well pointed , draw all the out-lines of your dciign upon the faid oyled papcrj when you have fo done, place it upon the plate in the like manner as is before mentioned. Se8:. 26. The forms cf graving-tools^ oi alfo the maH- Tier of V he t ting your Graver* PI. 9. THe upper part of tliis figure will (hew two forts of G ravin g-toolsj the one formed fquare^thc other lozcng : the fquare Graver makes a broad and (hallow ftroak^ or hatch ; and the lozeng makes a deep and narrower ftroke. The ufe of the fquare Graver is to make the largeft ftrokes 5 and the ufe of the other is to make the ftrokes more delicate and lively. But I preferre a Graver made of an iiidiffe- r«nt iize betwixt both thefetwoj which will make your ftrokes, or hatches, (liow with more life and vi- gour ^ and yet with fufficient force, accordiuf^ as you (hall manage it in your working : The forms of which will appear iu the I. and ILilgures. The III. figure (hews you how to whet thetw(i fides of your Graver, which is to be done in this manner following ^ you miift have a very good oyl- ftonefmooth and f^at, and having powred a little Sallad oyl thereupon, take the Graver, andlayin<^ one fide of it ( that which you intciid (hall cut the copper ) 44 The Art of Gyavlng copper ) flat upon the (lone, whet that ^^d^ very flat and even; and to that piupofe have an efpeciall care to carry your hand fledfaft, and with an equall ftrength, placing your forciinger very firm upon the oppoiite fide of your Graver; to the end that you may guide it with the more exaclneflTe : then turn the very next fide of your Graver, and whet that in the like mannei*, as you 'did the other; fo that there may be a very (harp edge for the fpace of an inch or better ; then turning uppermoft that edge which you have fo whetted, and fetti ng the end of your Graver obliquely upon the ftone, car- ry your hand exa£tly even, to the ^wd that it may be whetted very flat and Hoping, in the form of a lozeng, making to the edge a fharp pointy as the fi- gure II 11. (hews you. It is very necefl^ry that you trike great care in the exaft whetting of your Gj aver ; for it is impof- lible that you fhould ever work with that neatnefle and curiofity as you defire, if your Graver be not very good, and rightly whetted. I cannot demonftrate it fo plain and fully by fi- gures, and difcourfe, as I would : if you have i^c- quaintance with an Artift in this way, you may ea- fily undei'lbnd it in a fnoj t time. ] Sea- '^W% to. 2/ -^FTlaiA iiiirili $ The Art of Graving. 45 Seft. 27. The manrer how to hold jonr Graver^ with other particuian. YOu may fee alfo that the uppermoft part of this figure defcribes to you the form of two Gravers, with their handles fitted for the whetting. They that ufe this Art, do before they make ufe of them, commonly cut away that part of the knob oj? bowl that is at the end of their hajidles, which is Upon the (ame line with the edge of their G raver ; to the end it may not obftruft or hinder them in their graving, as the figure II. (hews you. For if you Ihould work upon a large plate yoii will find that part of yoiu' handle (if it be not cut away ) will reft ib upon the copper^ that it will hin- der the fmooth and even carriage -jf your hand in making your ftrokes or hatches ; alfo it will caufe your Graver to run into the copper in fuch fort, that you fhall not be able to manage it at your plea- lure. The third figure defcribes to you the way of holding your Graver 5 which is in this manner. Youmiift place the knob or ball of the handle of your Graver in the hollow of your hand, and ha- ving extended your forefinger towards the point of your Graver, laying it oppolite to the edge that ihould cut the copper, place your other fingers on the fide of your handle, and your thumb on the o- ther fide of the Graver, in fuch fort that you may guide your Graver fiat and parallel with the platen as you may fee in the IIII. figure. Becarefull that your fingers do not interpofe be- 46 The Art of Graving, between the plate and the Graver, for tliey will be troublefomCjana hinder you in carrying your Gra- ver level with tne plate, fo that you cannot make your ftrokes with that freedome and neatnefle, as other wile you may. This I think fit to give you notice of in this place, becaufe the skill of hold- ing your Graver is that which you muft nrft per- fcftly learn, eind be able to praftife without pain or difficulty J or elfc you will not gain fo great a readinefle and, command of your hand, as is re- quired in an accui*ate and skilfuil Graver. Seft. 2g. The Art cf Gravtftg 47 Se6^.28. The mofiner tf governing j9Ur hand itt Gra- ving , and other part ieuUrs, HAving defcribed the way of holding your Graver, the next thing is to (hew you how to guide your Graver upon the plate in making of your ft rokes, which are ftreight or crooked; that you may work with the more eafe and convenience, you muft have a ftrong round leather culhion liird with land or fine duft i let it be made about half a foot broad in the diameteijand three or four inches deep ; lay this upon a table which ftandeth faft and firm ; then lay your plate upon the cufhion, as is de- scribed in the II. figure in the former Section. When you are to make any ftraight ftrokes^hold yoiirGi'averas isdi.et^ed in the former Seciion ; and if you will have your ilrokes deeper or broader in one place than in another, in that place wheie you would have them deepeil, you muft preiTeyour hand hardeft : but eipecially in making of a ftreight ftroke^ be careful! to Hold your pbtc firm and fted- faft upon the cufhion. And if you make any crooked or winding ftrokcs, then hold your hand and Graver iledfail: > and as you work turn your plate againft your Gra- ver^ for otli«rwiieit is impoffible for you to make any crooked or witiding ftroke v.ith that neatneile and command, as by this means you may^ if you do not move your plate, and keep your arm and el- bow fixed or refied oii the table. If as you are working your Graver happen to break often on the point, it is a ngn it is tempered too 4^ ^^^ *yfrt of Graving, too hard; therefore take a red hot charcole, and lay the end of your Graver iipou it^ and when you perceive your Graver to wax yellowiihj dip it in the water : If your Graver become bkmt without breaking, it is a fign it is nothing worth. It will be convenient for you to have a pie'ceof box or hard wood, that after you have (harpened your Gi'aver, by fti iking the point of it into the faid box or hard wood, you may take off all the roughneile about the point, which was caufedby whetting it upon the oyl-frone. After you have gra- ved part of your work, it will be ncce&ary tofcrape it with a fharp edge of another Graver, carrying it along even with the plate, to take ofFthe roughnefs of the ftrokes ; bnt in fo doing take heed of making any new fcratches in your work. To the end you may better (ee that which is gra- ven,they commonly roll up clofe a piece of a black Felt or Caftor, liquored over a little with oyl-olive, and therewith rub the places graven : And if you perceive any fcratches in your plate, rub them out with your biirnifher: and if you have graved any of your ftrokes too deep, you make them appear fainter with rubbing them with your burnilher. FINIS ^ a MRE :o-