ELEMENTS OF DRAWING
By Henry Williams
Excerpt from Introduction
NONE of the arts, which have been invented for the use or amusement of mankind, can boast so great a number of admirers as that of drawing; and very justly, for it gives such an agreeable representation of things, that we are apt to fancy we see objects which have no real existence, and that the imagery before us, which is no more than a painted cloth, actually breathes. The whole creation, with all its works and wonders, comes within the power of its imitation. It sets before us things long since buried in oblivion, exhibits to perfect view the most noted actions of people who have been long in their graves, and shows us our ancestors, in a perfect resemblance of their features, through several successive generations. There is scarce any art or profession which receives not some assistance from drawing; without her help, no designs or models can be well executed; to her the mathematician, architect and navigator is continually indebted; no station of life is exempted from the practice of it, from the general at the head of an army, to the mechanic, who subsists by his handicraft. This excellent art seems inculcated by nature herself, for we see it not only practised by grown proficients, but even children frequently drawing various figures, and that so curiously, as even to astonish us with their productions.
That therefore youth may be instructed how to attain to a good degree of perfection in the art, we shall prescribe the best rules we are able, at least as such, as we apprehend, are absolutely necessary for their information.
Materials for drawing. - A drawing board in order to strain your paper, size 8 by 10 to 20 by 26 inches. It is a frame, mortised, and a smooth piece of board, about a quarter of an inch thick, its sides answering to the inside of the frame, on the back part of which it has a ledge round it to prevent the board from slipping through. There are two thin pieces of wood, which slip into holes mortised into the frame, that the board may not fall out backwards. Having furnished yourself with drawing paper suitable to the size of your board, spunge your paper till it is pretty thoroughly wet, then spreading it over your board smoothly, press it into the frame, and force in your back piece to keep all firm, and let it dry. - Black, red, and white chalks, a black lead pencil, and Indian ink must be provided, to be used as occasion may require, according to the nature of your drawing. The chalks ought to be fixed into a port crayon. - A ruler and compasses will also be useful. . .
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