Special accustomed to (see Plate XXIV): perhaps it may

Subjects be explained as a fashion set by penmanship (see

p. 205).

Inscriptions on Wood are frequently in relief (see
raised letters, p. 341), matching the carved orna¬
ment. Incised letters may be painted or gilded to
make them show more clearly.

Sign-Writing and Brush-Work.—Inscriptions,
such as shop signs, notices, &c., painted on wood or
stone, require—besides a practical knowledge of
materials—a considerable facility with the brush or
“pencil.” Directness and freedom of workmanship
are most desirable.1

A suitable brush will make letters closely resem¬
bling pen letters. But the pen automatically makes
letters with a uniform precision, which it is neither
desirable nor possible for the brush to imitate: and
greater skill is required to control the brush, which
in the hand of a good “Writer” will be permitted
to give its own distinct character to the lettering
(see also p. 256, and fig. 164).

The brush is properly used for temporary inscrip¬
tions, especially on the surface of painted wood or
stone, but, for more important work, incising or
carving (painted if desired) are to be preferred as
being more permanent2 and preserving the original
form 3 of the lettering.

1 This is recognised in the Sign-writing profession where,

I understand, an applicant for work is sometimes given a black¬
board or a piece of American cloth, on which he writes out a
short inscription in “sharp white.” It is not necessary to
watch the writer; good, direct workmanship shows itself, and
also every hesitating stroke or fault, every patch or “ touching-
up” or “going over,” is made evident.

* Brush lettering may be used very effectively on Tiles and
China, &c. (see p. 303), when it is of course rendered permanent
by baking.

* The original form of a painted inscription (not carved) is
inevitably spoilt by re-painting.

З40

OF INSCRIPTIONS GENERALLY

(See also Chapter XII, and pp. 314—317)
Jlphabets.—For practical purposes the best letters
are the Roman Capitals, Roman Small-Letters, and
Italics. These are susceptible of very decorative
treatment without loss of legibility. And there are
many varieties of the pure Roman Capital (see figs.
203-207), besides the “Gothicised” Roman and
the simple “Gothic” Capitals, which are all essen¬
tially readable.

Different Sizes of Capitals in inscriptions in wood,
stone, metal, &c., are generally kept approximately
equal in “weight” (see p. 292). Note.—A down¬
ward decrease in height of the letters is common in
early inscriptions (p. 372).

Incising is generally the most simple, and therefore
the most natural, method for making an ordinary
inscription. The letters should be large rather than
small, and be deeply cut. Note, however, an incised
stamp or die produces an impression in relief on clay,
&c. This may be seen in the lettering on Roman
pottery.

Raised Letters.—From the earliest times letters
in relief (or littera prominentes) have been used for
special purposes. They are generally rather more
legible than the incised letters, and the difference
between “thicks” and “thins” tends to disappear.
It is quite possible to make a beautiful and char¬
acteristic alphabet of equal-stroke letters, on the
lines of the so-called “Block Letter” but properly
proportioned and finished (such letters may be
Raised, or Incised or Painted: see incisedform, p. 355)-
Raised letters, if exposed to wear or damage, may
be protected by being on a sunk panel or having a
raised frame or ornament. The background also

З41

Special

Subjects