Exhibition Of Brass Rubbings At C.S.A.

Press, Volume CX, Issue 32210, 31 January 1970, Page 12

Exhibition Of Brass Rubbings At C.S.A.

An exhibition by Murray Ireland of rubbings from ancient English brasses is on display in the Canterbury Society of Arts lower gallery/ Brass rubbing is a simple .form of reproducing a single print from an engraved brass plate laid as a memorial on or near tombs. The brass rubber gains his impression by placing paper over the plate and applying a special wax, which marks the paper when a raised surface is encountered.

Of the 10,000 examples of monumental brasses that survive in Britain, 26, including the oldest remaining in England, “Sir John d’Aubernoun,” dated 1277, are included in this exhibition.

Brasses were produced in various workshops round

Britain and. the engravers portrayed types rather than individuals, hence many figures wear the same expression, on the &me face structure. The variety and decorative quality of clothing and the symbols of power, however, are infinite in their variation. There is a marked decline in the quality of engraving after 150 Q. Examples in this exhibition show that composition became heavy and much of the . simple charm of earlier works was lost. “Andrew Evynger and Family*’, is thought to be a brass of Flemish origin and it provides a. useful and flamboyant contrast to the reserved English style. The exhibition-will remain open until February 10. -G.T.M.