Notices of sculpture in ivory, consisting of a lecture on the history, methods, and chief productions of the art, delivered at the first annual ... by M[atthew] Digby Wyatt. And A Catalogue of

by Matthew Digby Wyatt

This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1856 ...and romantic subjects were abandoned, and instead of ivory-carving being called in to assist the cause of religion and morals, as it invariably did in the middle ages, it was too often made to pander to an elegant, though somewhat prurient taste, and that in the productions of the best artists, such as Jean Goujon himself. Nudity was sought rather than avoided in the statuettes. The loves of the gods were the favourite subjects of the bas-reliefs, while Bacchuses and Silenuses, Nymphs and Fauns, were made to sprawl about very gracefully, but not always very decorously, upon ivory tankards and portions of hanaps and wiederkoms. The " pingniers," or combmakers, who also made mirrors, soon added to their trade the manufacture of sword and dagger hilts, powder-horns, and knife and spoon handles. Infinite dexterity in the execution of spirited arabesques was constantly lavished upon these costly trifles, specimens of which may be found in every collection of ivory carvings of any importance. Some remarkably pretty objects of this kind, selected with great judgment, are possessed by M. Sauvageot and M. Carrand, of Paris. The late Mr. Bernal had also some choice relics of the best period of the French " Renaissance." It is difficult to trace from what cause ivory ceased to a great extent to be employed for articles of personal use in France in the beginning of the reign of Louis XIV. Certain it is, however, that with the exception of statuettes, occasional bas-reliefs, stick-handles, and snuff-boxes, ivory was but rarely used in that country during the seventeenth and eighteenth centuries. It is to Italy and Germany that we must mainly look for a continuation of the history of ivory-carving during those centuries. The Museums of Vienna, Munich,...

30 pages, Paperback

Published January 1, 2012

About the author

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Matthew...

from wikipedia:

Sir Matthew Digby Wyatt (28 July 1820 – 21 May 1877) was a British architect and art historian who became Secretary of the Great Exhibition, Surveyor of the East India Company and the first Slade Professor of Fine Art at the University of Cambridge.[1] From 1855 until 1859 he was honorary secretary of the Royal Institute of British Architects, and in 1866 received the Royal Gold Medal.[2]