Biographical dictionary of medallists: coin, gem, and seal-engravers, mint-masters, &c., ancient and modern, with references to their works B. C. 500-A. D. 1900; compiled by L. Forrer ...

- 372 -
parallel and equidistant planes over the whole surface of the medal,
there will be thus drawn a series of profiles corresponding to the
sections of these planes with the surface, and these lines will together form a drawing or engraving of the medal itself.
"Such an instrument was invented and executed, in 18 7, by Mr.
Gobrecht. In this instrument the " tracing point " moved across the
medal in parallel lines, perpendicular to the flat surface or table of
the medal, and the profile lines were drawn on an etching-ground,
laid on copper or steel by the "etching point". The first engraving made was of a head of the Emperor Alexander I. of Russia, and
the effect was very striking, and excited great attention. Mr. Gobrecht
did not, however, present any other specimens ruled by his machine,
as he became discouraged, in consequence of an apparently irremediable defect in his instrument; the ruled engraving exhibiting a
distortion of the features, not indeed very perceptible in copies
from medals in low relief, but from those in high relief quite offensive. He consequently abandoned his invention. But the machine,
after being improved by others, and the distortion obviated, by a
most ingenious device, founded on the mathematical principles of
projection, has been used with eminent success, and has proved a
valuable assistant to the fine arts.
"MEDALS. - Head of Charles Wilson Peale, one and one-quarter
inches in diameter.
"Medal of New England Society for Promotion of Manufactures,
etc., two and one-half inches in diameter. Obv. Head of Archimedes. Rev. Steamboat, cotton-gin, and nail-making machine, in
three small ovals.
"Medal of Franklin Institute, two inches diameter. Head of
Franklin. Of this head, John Neagle, in a letter to the engraver,
speaks as follows: " I am delighted with it, and as a specimen of
art, am proud to acknowledge it from the hands of a friend. I had
an opportunity of giving it a severe test by comparing it in one
hand, with the same head by the celebrated Dupre in the other,
and it gives me great pleasure to say that, in my opinion, it surpasses the other very far in merit. Yours has more of the genuine
character of our great philosopher and statesman. I could point out
many great beauties over the other, and many more truths in
yours, but I forbear till I have the pleasure of seeing you".
"Head of Charles Carroll, of Carrollton, two inches diameter. Of
this medal Mr. Carroll's grandson writes as follows: "The impressions of the dies you sent me were very much admired by every
one at a dinner given on the birthday of my grandfather, and
pronounced excellent. R. Gilmore says the execution of it is superior to the one he had executed in Europe".
" Medal Massachusetts Mechanics' Charitable Association, one and