33. Cutbush, James.
Vol. I. THE AMERICAN / ARTIST'S MANUAL, / OR / DICTIONARY
OF PRACTICAL KNOWLEDGE / IN THE / APPLICATION
OF PHILOSOPHY / TO / THE ARTS AND
MANUFACTURES. / Selected from the most complete European Systems,
/ WITH / ORIGINAL IMPROVEMENTS / AND / APPROPRIATE
ENGRAVINGS. / ADAPTED TO / THE USE OF THE
MANUFACTURERS OF THE UNITED STATES. / BY JAMES
CUTBUSH. / IN TWO VOLUMES-VOL. I. / PHILADELPHIA: /
PUBLISHED BY JOHNSON & WARNER, AND R. FISHER. / W.
Brown Printer, Church Alley. / 1814.
8vo. Title page (1 unnumbered p.); copyright (1 unnumbered p.); dedication
([i]); preface ([iii]-iv); text with 14 engravings, of which 1 is
folding, inserted and with numerous figures (336 leaves).
Vol. II. THE AMERICAN / ARTIST'S MANUAL / . . . / IN
TWO VOLUMES-VOL. II. / . . .
8vo. Title page (1 unnumbered p.); copyright (1 unnumbered p.); text,
with 22 engravings inserted and with many figures in the text (348
leaves).
The engravers were Hugh Anderson (fl.1811-24), a Philadelphian;
Joseph H. Seymour (fl.1719-1822), who worked at Worcester, Boston,
and Philadelphia; and either Benjamin Tanner (1775-1848) or his
brother Henry S. Tanner (1786-1858), both of whom worked along the
eastern seaboard.
James Cutbush (1788-1823), an American chemist, introduces his
book by saying:
It was not to be expected that the United States, possessing such an extensive
territory, and with a population so small compared with the older countries of
Europe, where the number of inhabitants insures manual labor at a moderate
price, could have, hitherto, made equal advances in the arts and manufactures.
Recent experience has however shewn us what the united efforts of industry
and enterprize, conducted by the inventive talents of our countrymen, are capable
of effecting. The time has already arrived, when a general diffusion of
the knowledge of Europe on these subjects, cannot fail of being highly interesting
and beneficial amongst us. [P. iii]
His book is, in actuality, a dictionary of crafts, which is a synonym
for the word "arts" as used in the title. The entries on the following subjects,
however, are pertinent to the fine arts-bricks, bricklayers, building,
cement, color making, engraving, etching, gaslight, nails, pencils,
stucco, and whitewash. It is interesting to note in connection with this list
that Jefferson wished to have the possibility of using gaslights at the
University of Virginia investigated, as seen in a letter of May 20, 1826,
to John H. Cocke, although the suggestion seems to have come from the
first faculty members.
Cutbush defined building as
the art of constructing and raising an edifice: in which sense it comprehends
as well the expenses, as the invention and execution of the design.
In the practice of this useful art, there are five particulars to be principally
attended to: 1. Situation; 2. Contrivance, or design; 3. Strength and
solidity; 4. Convenience and utility; and 5. Elegance. . . .
The modern rage for building, however, is apparently attended with this
unfavourable effect, that little attention is paid to the quality of the materials,
and the strength of the edifice, if speculative monied men attain their object,
in erecting houses that may be let at a certain rent. [N.p.]
Jefferson ordered this book for the University in the section on
"Technical Arts" of the want list, but there is no evidence that a set was
acquired before 1828. The library's present set was the gift of A. C.
Taylor.
U. Va.
*T9.C95.1814
