JF Ptak Science Books Quick Post
This superb engraving, "Examples of Finished Shading, Locomotive Wheels" (source unknown) was engraved by J.W. Lowry after the original of C.J. Wallis, and published by Blackie & Son of Edinburgh and London around the year 1880. The work is detailed yet spare, heavy yet elegrant, beautiful, and of course perfectly shadowed. Splendid. The details (above and below) could be almost anything, but the first does have a certain pull of the 18th century masters of Fench visionary architects (Boullee, Leduc & co.) to it. The full engraving (which is available at our blog bookstore) is follows the following.
And the full engraving: 
I loved mechanical drawing, but then found that one semester satisfied me. I still enjoy looking at beautiful drawings like these, as well as architectural drawings, but the urge to do them fell away long ago. A head injury? Dissolution of the soul? Something happened. These are quite lovely.
Posted by: Jeff Donlan | 07 February 2011 at 09:31 PM