The Crier (after Cornelius du Sart)

Cornelis Ploos van Amstel

Cornelis Ploos van Amstel (Jacob Cornelisz) invented a process which reproduced drawings of Masters using a unique transfer technique with added roulette and burnishing that he developed in the mid 18th century. This example, done in 1776, is after a drawing by Cornelius du Sart, (Dusart) done 100 years before practical photography was invented.

Arthur Edwin Bye, Sr. wrote an article on Amstel's work, describing his techniques in the 'Print Collector's Quarterly, Volume 13, No. 4, December, 1926'. His work in printmaking was also studied by Dutch connoisseur N. G. van Huffel in the early 20th century.

Ploos van Amstel was a man of wealth, he was a drawing collector with over 5,000 drawings by 16th and 17th century masters. Between 1765 and 1787 he produced 46 facsimilies in editions of 300 - 350 impressions.

Van Amstel used 3 processes to print: to imitate crayon drawings, color mezzotint, and a third method that reproduced sepia, india ink and color.

For the crayon drawings he traced the original drawing with red crayon on oiled paper, transferred this to a stronger sheet and then finished the drawing by hand. He then put fine copper shavings on the back of the drawing after adding adding a gum to the back. He then took a prepared copper plate and fastened the drawing on it. He then traced his drawing through the paper, which transferred the copper shavings to the plate. When the plate was bitten the lines transferred. He then added roulette and used burnishing to achieve highlights.

To copy the watercolor and wash drawings, such as this example, he used a variation on the above technique and added aquatint and/or bit the plate using acid washes and a variation of mezzotint.