Gezicht op het Doncaster Cross 1749 - 1793

This print of the Doncaster Cross was made by James Caldwall, using the incised lines of an engraving to depict a stone monument. The linear quality of the engraving beautifully conveys the cross's architectural details, from the stacked stone blocks of its base to the trio of crosses that crown its summit. You can see how the texture of the stone is suggested with closely hatched lines. The monument looks so solid and permanent, but this is just an image on paper. Engraving is an indirect process. The artist incises lines into a metal plate, applies ink, and then presses paper against the plate to transfer the image. Each line requires time and skill, a testament to the engraver's labor and the value placed on visual representation in eighteenth-century society. Ultimately, by understanding the materials and processes involved in its creation, we gain insight into the cultural values embedded within this image of the Doncaster Cross.