a word of Italian origin, signifying half-painted, is applied to a particular style of engraving from its near resemblance to painting. Its invention has been ascribed to Prince Rupert; but it is much more probable that the real originator of the art was Ludwig von Siegen, an officer in the service of the landgrave of Hesse. This art has reached its highest perfection among English engravers, whose portraits after Reynolds, Raeburn, Lawrence, &c., are worthy of the highest commendation for the elegance of their execution. The mezzotint process possesses the additional merit of enabling the artist to give transcripts of his pictures at a cost exceedingly moderate when compared with the great expense of line engraving. The process has been very much improved since the beginning of the present century, by the introduction of clever etching of the outline and shades along with the mezzotinto, which at once gives character, charm, texture, and consistency to the subjects represented. While the mode of laying the ground is so well known, that plates of every description can be procured by every preparer of copper or steel, it may nevertheless be requisite to give a brief description of the process, especially as the laying of the ground forms part of the work of artists. The instruments employed for this purpose are called cradles, from their rocking motion, and may be made by any blacksmith. They consist of pieces of properly tempered MGL

Miako steel, prepared with teeth, and fitted into handles, as shown in the accompanying cut, and are of all dimensions adapted to be used by the hand. The teeth, which are of all degrees of fineness, are applied to the surface of the plate fixed upon the table, to which a rocking motion is applied in all directions, until a perfectly black ground is given to the plate by raising a barb or burr upon it which holds the printing-ink for the impression. Other instruments, such as scrapers and burnishers, are employed, and may be readily procured. Rulettoes are also sometimes used for darkening or deepening any particular object or space, and can easily be obtained. The difficulty of the process, which can only be overcome by practice, consists in the laying of the ground, some portions of the work requiring coarser and others finer grounding. No special rules can be given for the rest of the process, which consists partly in scraping and partly in burnishing off, first the middle tints, and then the lights.

It has been customary to give Le Blon of Frankfort's method of printing in colours in treating of mezzotintos, which is performed by various plates; but such modes of procuring coloured engravings may be better seen and understood by consulting Baxter's oil-colour painting from wood blocks, or Hulmandel's lithographic printing in colours, known by the name of "Cromo-Lithography," methods which have in great measure superseded the former.