EXGRA VING ON PRECIOUS STONES. 15 *
Pistrucci, a Roman by birth, but for many years a resident
of London, was one of the most fortunate of modern engravers
in a pecuniary sense ; his works were always eagerly sought,
and commanded high prices. His Flora, bought for an |
antique, was considered the choicest gem in the cabinet of the
purchaser, Mr. Payne Knight ; his cameo of a Greek warrior
on horseback, with slight changes, was adopted for the reverse
of English crown pieces and sovereigns at the re-coinage in
1816. The improved copy of the design for a subsequent coinage, during the reign of George IV., is regarded the finest on
any modern currency ; his heads on the obverse are less
successful.
Of English engravers in the last century, Smart was the
most notable for the celerity with which he wrought : he is
said to have engraved several stones in a single day, and by no
means in a careless manner. Seaton was characterized by
extreme finish, but lacked spirit ; his most famous productions
are the portraits of Pope, Inigo Jones, and Newton. Marchant left some fine works in the Greek style, but their finish
is too minute for effect, the consequence of using the microscope in the process of engraving. Mr. Streeter says that
Italy, France, and England afford the best engravings of
modern times, and the imitations of antiques are so perfect that
it is with difficulty they can be distinguished from the genuine,
even by experts.
The practice for engravers to affix their names to their
works did not come into use until the time of the Emperor
Augustus. A Diana on sard, in the archaic style, belonging
to the Stosch collection, is supposed to be the oldest gem
known bearing the artist's name — Heias.
Subjects for Engraving. — The themes for the engraver's
art are limited in variety, consequently they are frequently
