WILLIAM and NORGATE - SAMPSON LOW , MARSTON , SEARLE, and RIVINGTON ( publishers ) - CHISWICK Press ( printers ) :
Reference : 47000
18. London, William and Norgate ( for the first vol.of 1879) - Sampson Low, Marston, Searle and Rivington ( for the vols. 2,3 and 4 of 1880, 1881, 1882), in-folio, 37 cm, uniformly bound in claret coloured quarter morooco with marbled boards and end papers, top edges gilt. Fine copies with stainless interiors and engravings. Nice set of this luxury periodical devoted to the art of the etcher. In all 5 volumes were published ( vol. 5, the last, not present here). The first 4 volumes contain in all 128 original engravings by artists such as Robert Macbeth , J.P. Heseltine , W.B. Scott , R.S. Chattock , E.L. Montefiore , C.P. Slocombe, C.N. Storm van 's Gravesande , W.P. Crooke , W.H. Urwick, Anna Lea Merritt, J.W. Buxton Knight , T. Huson, David Law , H.R. Robertson, W.J. Cooper , Axel Herman Haig , C.F. Robinson, J.M. Youngman and many others...Most of the original artworks presented here are etchings depicting landscapes, harbour views, a few portraits, street scenes...in the late Romantic-Victorian style. Nearly all show great mastering of the difficult art of etching and engraving. This typical , expensive, publication, catered for the intense craving of the Victorian public for these romantic landscapes and views. Very soon the advance of photography and reproduction printing techniques made it possible to supply the market with cheaper and more authentic views... but alass the noble art of etching suffered from it..