Page:Chats on old prints (IA chatsonoldprints00haydiala).pdf/206

 St. Cecilia, Dance of the Cupids, and The Five Saints—he establishes his claim to be regarded as one of the first and one of the most remarkable of the great succession of interpretative engravers.

We reproduce, (facing p. 138), two of Marc Antonio's engravings after designs of Raphael entitled Temperance and Faith. It should be mentioned that the works of Marc Antonio are very numerous, and although such a fine print as the Massacre of the Innocents after Raphael may fetch anything from £50 to £150, according to state, yet he is by no means beyond the reach of the poor collector. Although many forgeries are on the market of his more important plates, yet it is possible to procure very fair examples of his work at reasonable sums. The Presentation in the Temple may be bought for 15s., The Flight into Egypt for the same money, or a fine impression of the set of Virtues, such as we illustrate, at a guinea apiece.

In Germany the school of Nuremburg became illustrious. The Van Mechens, father and son, and Martin Schöngauer (1445-1499) and Albert Dürer (1471-1528) all contributed to carry the dexterity of the graver to a point of perfection not reached by the Italian school. Marc Antonio Raimondi reproduced Dürer's designs across the Alps till his flagrant imitations became a scandal. In spite, however, of the mechanical inferiority of the rudest Italian engraving it is superior in feeling, grace, and spirituality to the more finished German work; although for impressive strength, for exquisite technique, and for brilliance of effect no line engravings were executed that can