[Baren]: The mailing list / discussion forum for woodblock printmaking.

Baren Digest             Thursday, 16 December 1999     Volume 09 : Number 823

----------------------------------------------------------------------

From: "Gregory D. Valentine" <gvalen@linfield.edu>
Date: Wed, 15 Dec 1999 13:18:19 -0800 (PST)
Subject: [Baren 7186] Re: Aldus Manutius 

Aldus founded the Aldine Press, whose device is the dolphin wrapped around
an anchor.  Like many of the early printers, Aldus was a humanist scholar,
whose intention with his press was to provide inexpensive and accurate
texts of greek and latin classics, grammars, translations, and scholarly
commentary by contemporaries.  His italic type was more legible than black
letter (gothic) and more compact than roman.  The usual size of an Aldine
book is octavo smaller than a mass-market of today, but comparable.  Their
low cost and availablity helped spread learning through Europe.  His
motto, which I have admired since I learned it, is "hasten slowly," but
just now I cant render that in Latin for you. 
- --Greg Valentine

------------------------------

From: "barebone" <barebone@pacifier.com>
Date: Wed, 15 Dec 1999 17:34:49 -0800
Subject: [Baren 7187] Re: Baren Digest V9 #822 

Have you seen "The World of M.C. Escher"  published by Abrams, distributed
by New American Library, available in paperback. Library of Congress card #
73-20290. I don't see an ISBN number. It includes text by Escher, edited by
J. L. Locher.  Good Luck - Sharri

------------------------------

From: "Gregory D. Valentine" <gvalen@linfield.edu>
Date: Wed, 15 Dec 1999 20:20:37 -0800 (PST)
Subject: [Baren 7188] artpaper.com 

Re: all this about artpaper.com (Blue Sky in NC, isnt it?).  I would have
replied a while back, but am way behind on my
correspondance.  I use them, get my paper there.  I have used the kozo,
have but havent tried the kochi, and thought the student grade hosho was
junk.  Im by no means knowledgeable about printing papers, and although I
once printed on a fine sheet of paper (such as Graham mentions) and
thought it far superior to anything else Ive used, still I think this
paper is reasonable and affordable and appropriate to my level of skill.
I dont sell anything; its all out-of-pocket expense, so affordability is a
desirable attribute.  Ive always been pleased with
their service.    --Greg Valentine

------------------------------

From: "Gregory D. Valentine" <gvalen@linfield.edu>
Date: Wed, 15 Dec 1999 20:35:52 -0800 (PST)
Subject: [Baren 7189] Mattioli woodblock 

One more indulgence, please.  I recently saw in a catalogue an original
woodblock used to illustrate Mattioli's 1562 (Czech edition) botanical
book, described thus:
  'Pear woodblock, size 8 5/8 x 6 3/16 x 3/4 inches . . . slightly worn
and wormed, though still in excellent condition . . . "the artists are
named in the dedication to this edition, but little else is known about
either of them . . . The results of their work are certainly among the
greatest botanical woodcuts, with delicate shading that makes colour
almost an irrelevance."' [quote from 'The Mattioli Woodblocks', Watson,
Raphael and Bain, 1989].
   The block is kept in a quarter calf clamshell case, with marbled
boards.  

This is the BLOCK, not the print, and it has obviously been treasured for
its' beauty and resonance.  Something to aspire to; then again, they make
good kindling, too.       --Greg Valentine

------------------------------

From: David Bull <davebull@woodblock.com>
Date: Thu, 16 Dec 1999 15:49:31 +0900
Subject: [Baren 7190] Exchange #5 announcement. 

The [Baren] Exchange program has been in a bit of a confused situation
for the past couple of months. Because Exchange #3 and #4 got started up
so close together, it was impossible to consider initiating #5 as well,
so it was 'shelved' for a while ...

But it's now time to get it started. Of course, you are all too busy to
start _work_ on a print right now, but if we start the registration
process, the Exchange will be able to actually get underway in the new
year.

http://woodblock.com

... and as always, check in the 'Administrative Links' section, where
you will find a link to a page with infomation (and the sign-up sheet).

And awaaaaaaay we go!

Dave

------------------------------

From: "John Ryrie" <johnry@hotkey.net.au>
Date: Thu, 16 Dec 1999 19:55:32 +1100
Subject: [Baren 7191] Re: Mattioli woodblock 

I've seen the same thing done with Tomas Bewick's Aesop's Fables an edition
with a block for one of the wood engravings.   Book and block in a clamshell
case.  I've been toying with the idea of doing the same with one of my own
books.   Because a lot of my blocks have ended up as Kindling too.

John

------------------------------

End of Baren Digest V9 #823
***************************