to the lectures delivered at Oxford on Etching and Mezzotinting Engraving by Professor Herkomer.
In the series of four plates appearing as the first illustration in this chapter, it will be seen by what stages the finished engraving is produced. These are engraver's trial proofs during the progression of the plate under his hand. The first of the four is what is known as the "reduction." The picture to be copied has first to be drawn on the metal. The method here employed is to divide the space to be engraved upon into a series of squares produced by horizontal and vertical lines cutting each other. These spaces are each numbered; the figures will be seen in the margins at the top and at the side. The picture to be copied has the same number of lines stretched across it by means of threads of cotton, by this device the designer is able to reduce the proportions of the original to the smaller surface upon which it is to be engraved. The next stage is to employ etching in the outline and leading parts of the design. The use of etching extended to a large portion of the plate so much so that one wonders if it would not be more proper to call many of these prints etchings finished in line with the graver. In a book published in 1844 laying down rules for the steel engraver, the following shows how this use of etching had grown. "Every part, except white objects, should be etched as much as possible; nothing should be left for the graver but perfecting, softening, and strengthening."
The second plate shows this method in full operation. Everything has been so etched according
