{"meta":{"version":"2.1","_links":{"self":{"href":"https://api.vam.ac.uk/v2/object/O1107480"},"collection_page":{"href":"https://collections.vam.ac.uk/item/O1107480/"}},"images":null,"see_also":null},"record":{"systemNumber":"O1107480","accessionNumber":"CIRC.519-1964","objectType":"Wood-Engraving Print","titles":[{"title":"The Elk","type":""}],"summaryDescription":"","physicalDescription":"An elk, viewed in profile, standing in a sparse woodland landscape, facing to the left of the image.","artistMakerPerson":[{"name":{"text":"Bewick, Thomas","id":"A6564"},"association":{"text":"engravers (printmakers)","id":"AAT25165"},"note":""}],"artistMakerOrganisations":[],"artistMakerPeople":[],"materials":[{"text":"laid paper","id":"AAT14184"},{"text":"printing ink","id":"AAT187371"}],"techniques":[{"text":"wood-engraving (process)","id":"AAT53303"}],"materialsAndTechniques":"Wood-engraving print on laid paper","categories":[{"text":"Prints","id":"THES48903"},{"text":"Illustration","id":"THES48938"},{"text":"Animals and Wildlife","id":"THES250852"}],"styles":[],"collectionCode":{"text":"PDP","id":"THES48595"},"images":[],"imageResolution":"high","galleryLocations":[{"current":{"text":"LVLE","id":"THES49657"},"free":"","case":"Z","shelf":"2","box":"B"}],"partTypes":[[{"text":"wood-engravings","id":"AAT41402"}]],"contentWarnings":[{"apprise":"","note":""}],"placesOfOrigin":[{"place":{"text":"Newcastle upon Tyne","id":"x29507"},"association":{"text":"printed and published","id":"x35383"},"note":""}],"productionDates":[{"date":{"text":"1790","earliest":"1790-01-01","latest":"1790-12-31"},"association":{"text":"first published","id":"x46563"},"note":""}],"associatedObjects":[],"creditLine":"","dimensions":[{"dimension":"Height","value":"11.8","unit":"cm","qualifier":"","date":{"text":"","earliest":null,"latest":null},"part":"of sheet","note":""},{"dimension":"Width","value":"13.5","unit":"cm","qualifier":"","date":{"text":"","earliest":null,"latest":null},"part":"of sheet","note":""}],"dimensionsNote":"Measured by DH 07/09/2010","marksAndInscriptions":[],"objectHistory":"Formerly C.8989, a list showing both new and old numbers in 64/2371\r\n\r\nThis engraving features in Thomas Bewick's first major independent publication, <i>A General History of Quadrupeds</i>, first printed and published in Newcastle upon Tyne in 1790. It contains illustrations of animals, alongside brief descriptions of their appearance, habits and habitats, accompanied by a number of illustrative vignettes, used mainly as tailpieces.\n\nHistorical significance: Thomas Bewick was the first engraver to exploit fully the advantages of end-grain wood (the wood is cut across, rather than along, the grain). Once it had been proved that the technique could rival the fine effects of metal engraving, the advantages of wood engraving to the book trade were quickly recognised. Allowing both text and illustration to be printed in one operation, it ousted the intaglio process as the favourite for book illustration and was only superseded at the end of the nineteenth century when methods of photomechanical reproduction were developed.","historicalContext":"","briefDescription":"'The Elk', viewed in profile, standing in a sparse woodland landscape. Wood-engraving print on paper. Illustration featured in 'A General History of Quadrupeds' (first published 1790). Engraved by Thomas Bewick. Newcastle upon Tyne, England.","bibliographicReferences":[{"reference":{"text":"","id":""},"details":"","free":"Taken from Departmental Circulation Register 1964"}],"production":"Thomas Bewick's <i>A General History of Quadrupeds</i> was first published in 1790.","productionType":{"text":"","id":""},"contentDescription":"","contentPlaces":[],"associatedPlaces":[],"contentPerson":[],"associatedPerson":[{"text":"Beilby, Ralph","id":"AUTH400873"}],"contentOrganisations":[],"associatedOrganisations":[],"contentPeople":[],"associatedPeople":[],"contentEvents":[],"associatedEvents":[],"contentOthers":[{"text":"elk","id":"x34939"}],"contentConcepts":[],"contentLiteraryRefs":[],"galleryLabels":[],"partNumbers":["CIRC.519-1964"],"accessionNumberNum":"519","accessionNumberPrefix":"CIRC","accessionYear":1964,"otherNumbers":[],"copyNumber":"","aspects":["WHOLE"],"assets":[],"recordModificationDate":"2025-04-05","recordCreationDate":"2009-07-01","availableToBook":false}}