Knight's Mechanical Encyclopedia, S., Stip′ple.

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19th-Century American

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Stip′ple.

Another name for chalk engraving; so called because it consists of dots, and resembles chalk-drawings made upon rough paper.

Dots are made instead of lines, and these are closer, deeper, and larger, in accordance with the depth of color desired.

The chalk-drawings of Sir Thomas Lawrence were much admired, and the style became fashionable. This mode of engraving originated with Jacob Bylaert, of London, in 1769, and was practiced in France during the early part of last century, but did not arrive at the greatest excellence until early in the present century. It does not fall within the scope of this work to enumerate the masters in this style of the art of engraving, but the softness and beauty of its finish in representing flesh and statuary are very admirable. Bartolozzi is said to have brought it to perfection; more brilliancy and vigor have been attained by later engravers, but not more grace and softness. It is usual to form the basis by etching in the dots, but the beauty of finish, rotundity, and delicacy are the work of the graver.

They are made through a ground on the plate, and then bit-in by acid. Afterward they are modified, deepened, and enlarged by the action of a graver, whose belly is concave, so as to present the point more vertically to the face of the plate than usual in line engraving, where the belly is slightly convex.

The ground is a resinous mixture, which is spread smoothly upon the heated plate, and then allowed to cool. When this is removed by the etching-needle, the subsequent action of the acid makes little pits in the plate, which hold the ink when printing. See ground; engraving.

1877.

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Knight's Mechanical Encyclopedia
Knight, Ed.

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Stip′ple.

Knight's Mechanical Encyclopedia Knight, Ed.

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Stip′ple.

Knight's Mechanical Encyclopedia
Knight, Ed.