ENGRAVING. From the book of Eiodus we learn that when Moses had liberated the Jeivs from Egyptian bondage, he was coni =tided to make a plate of pure geld, and grave upon it, like the engravings of a signet, holiness to the Lord: He was also com manded k to take two onyx stones, and grave on them the names of the children of Israel according to their birth, With the Werk of an engraver On stone, like the engravings of a signet.' Both these passages distinctly imply the practice of gein and seal engraving, and also of engraving on Metal plates. From Ilerodotus we learn that one of the earliest uses to which engraving was applied among the Greeks was the delineation of maps on nietal plates. Some of the Egyptian hiero glyphic inscriptions are evidently executed with instruments similar to those no in use. Some of the lines narrowing downwards have clearly been cut with the loXenge-Sbaped graver now Chiefly used; but other lines, being of tho same width through their whole depth, must have been produced with that species of graver called a swivel', still used for effecting broad incisions. It is believed that some of the relics of Etruscan art in the British seum are of as high antiquity as any existing' specimens of engraving. In India, also, the art of engraving on plates of copper appears to have been practised long before the Chris tian fera. It would appear that it was there customary to ratify grants of land by deeds of transfer actually engraven on plates of copper, as we now write them on skins of parchment.
In England, before the Conquest, many of the buckles, clasps, rings, and military accou trements were engraved. In the museum of Oxford is preserved a finely engraved gold jewel, which belonged to Alfred the Great. About the 12th century was introduced the art of engraving sepulchral brasses. They are executed entirely with the graver, and in the same manner that a copper plate is now engraired.
We now approach the period when the in vention bf printing gave to engraving a new direction. The first prints were obtained from engraved wood blocks. The earliest print with a date attached to it is one known as the St. Christopher, which is from a Wood block, and dated 1423 ; but no impression from an en graved plate has been found with a date ante rior to 1461. The art of engraving on metal plate's for taking impressions on paper was first practised by Tommaso Fineguerra, a Florentine goldsmith, about the year 1460. Some writers have claimed the invention for Germany ; but it is generally considered that the art was first practised in Italy, and had its origin in the Workshops of the goldsmiths. Many of these goldsmiths were viellatori, or workers in niello—A mode of ornamental en graving usually performed on silver plates— the design engraved on which was afterwards filled in with a black composition.
An accident is said to have suggested to Fineguerra the possibility of taking an im pression from the engraved design with ink on Moistened paper. When once established, the new art was eagerly taken up by Baldini, Botticelli, Pollajuoli, and Mantegna; and in Germany by Martin Schoen, Israel van Mech ehi, Leydenwurf, and Wolgemut. The first book printed at Rome (an edition of Ptolenuens's Geography) was illustrated by the first plate engravings, twenty-seven in number, which were maps, and were executed there by two Gerinans, Sweynbeym and Buckink. This work is dated 1478, hitt was commenced in 1472. Another early work was an edition of Dante's ' Inferno,' published at Florence in 1481, and embellished with engravings by Baccio Baldini, after the designs of Botticelli.
One of the best engravers in Italy in the early part of the 16th century was Rairnondi, who studied under Francia and Raffaelle. His great merit lay in the correctness and beauty of his outline. He engraved many of Raf faelle's pictures, which he copied with great truth, although defective in respect to light and shade. He was succeeded in Italy by Agostino de Musis, Marc de Ravenna, Caraglio, Giulio Bonasoni, and Enea Vico, all pupils of Raimondi ; Georgi Ghisi of Mantua, and his relatives Diana and Adam Ghisi, Cornelius Cort, &c. The principal painters who have practised engraving iu Italy are Agostino Carracci, Stefano della Bella, Spagnoletto, Guercind, Salvatoi Rosa, Claude Lorraine, SWarteveldt, Canaletto, Piranesi, &c; In Germany engraving made more rapid strides towards excellence, in the mechanical putt of it ; and at the commencement of the 10th century appeared Albert Darer, a man whose universality of talent extended the botnadarla of every dePartment of art; and carried all to a degree of perfection Previously unknown in that country. He had great com mand of the graver, and carried his plates to e much higher degree of finish than his Italian contemporaries. He is also believed t0 have invented the art of etching by corro sion three of his specimens are dated 1515, 1510, and 1518 respectively. On examining the etchings bf Albeit Diirer, we see that they have all been corroded at one biting-in ; which sufficiently explains their monotonous appear ance, and Proves that stopping out' was not then understood. The principal German en graver% after Albert Diirei, are Aldegraver, the Behains, Altdorfer, Bink, Penz; Solis, &c.