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138 THE PHOTOGRAPHIC NEWS. [March 21,1862. prolonged) development, I do not think I shall resort to other means. Results surpassingly beautiful have been, and are produced, with iron, but the tendency with many manipulators is to produce hard negatives with violent con trasts. I find my way simple, and to me tolerably certain, and although it may be old fashioned, it answers my pur pose in all that I wish. Too much light I find a decided objection with pyrogallic acid, and it is a matter of surprise with gentlemen who have visited me to find all my light received through the top only, and even that for the most part through stippled glass. I like to see the light fall on the sitter, so as to give a gloss to the hair—it looks to me natural and familiar, for in these days of Maccassar and pomades it is always visible, either by day or artificial light. I suppose, however, it is simply a question of taste, or, perhaps, with me, a very “ questionable ” taste. Although the aspect of my room is certainly not the best, on account of the sun, I am almost of opinion that it produces greater roundness of feature than any other, and should certainly choose the same aspect on building another. Before I conclude I should like to draw the attention of pho tographers to the great advantage of the automatic washing system ; many friends who have seen my arrangement have immediately constructed one with success, and have found on testing that, with the occasional use of a sponge, the prints have been perfectly washed. The contrivance is very simple and may be made by any gentleman at the expense of a few shillings, it will last for years and is not at all likely to get out of order. I have a diagram here which will perhaps ex plain to you its construction; it is simply, as you will observe, an oval wooden tub with an orifice made some two inches from the top, through this is inserted a leaden pipe of about -inch bore, which is then brought to the bottom of the tub through a false and perforated bottom of zinc, the portion of the pipe immediately in connection with the out side of the orifice is then bent into two elbows, taking care that the second is slightly below the first, it is then continued any length you please. Immediately the water rises above the first and higher elbow, the syphon begins to work, and rapidly empties the tub from the bottom. The false bottom is only to prevent the prints being sucked up the pipe. I am aware there is nothing new in this, but it may have escaped the notice of many gentlemen, and I wish to bear my testimony to its advantages, as all that is necessary is to place it below the tap of a cistern, in such a manner that the influx may give a rotatory motion to the prints, with the projecting limb over a drain, and regulate the supply so that it shall emty itself, say three times in the hour. One word with respect to varnish, about which we have lately read so much. I have for a very long time used varnish prepared after a receipt of a very practical friend of mine. I can vouch for its usefulness, cheapness, and capa bility of standing any amount of sun-heat. Obtain from any colourman some best white hard carriage varnish, and dilute the same down with methylated alcohol. Warmth is necessary for its application, and the right proportions are soon ascertained after a few trials. Should it become cloudy on adding the alcohol, in a few days it will become absolutely limpid and may then be decanted, immediate filtration, however, having the same effect. Gentlemen, I thank you for your attention. ON THE STEREOSCOPIC PICTURE EXECUTED I THE SIXTEENTH CENTURY BY JACOPO CHl MENTI. BY SIR DAVID BTEWSTER, K.H., F.B.S. In 1859, when Dr. John Brown and his brother Dr. Al® ander Crum Brown were visiting the Museum of Wica 1 Lille, their attention was called to two pictures of a ml sitting upon a low stool, and holding in his left hand pair of compasses, and in his right hand a line reaching t ground. These two pictures appeared to be exactly the saw as if the one had been copied from the other. They wel each about twelve inches high and eight and a half bros and were placed close to one another like the pictures in stereoscopic slide. Dr. A. Crum Brown, on his return 1 England, sent me, through Principal Forbes, the followi account of these two pictures, which I think was read in b presence at a former meeting of this Society. “These two drawings,” he says, “are by Jacopo Chime da Empoli, a painter of the Florentine school, who was W in 1554, and who died in 1640. They are drawings of * the same person from points of view slightly different. I on the right hand is from a point of view slightly to t left of that on the left hand. They are so exactly on 0 same scale, that by converging the optic axes I succeeded 1 uniting the two so as to produce an image in relief. T united so easily and completely, that I could not he Left eye. Right eye. thinking that they had been drawn for the purpose of be” looked at in that way. So far as I could judge, the di ence between the pictures was greater than would be 1 duced by a change of the position of a spectator equd the distance between the two eyes; so that the stereosC^ effect was somewhat exaggerated. I think, if we had a P tograph of the pictures it would be much easier to P™ their stereoscopic character than merely by referring them ; and if the photographs were of such a size that t could be transposed and put in the stereoscope, any " could see it.” Ja 1 had no sooner received this very interesting commul. tion from Dr. Crum Brown, than I took measures for obtb ing a photograph of this stereoscopic picture. I wrot. J M. Delezenne, a corresponding Member of the Academ!« Sciences, requesting him to have such a photograph • cuted at my expense. In reply to my letter, he tolv that photographs were not permitted to be taken ol objects in the Museum, but that Mr. Bingham was eng in taking photographs of them for the Prince Consort, • alone had received this privelege from the trustees 01 Museum. < Upon receiving this information, I applied to the • Consort, through Sir Charles Phipps, for a copy of the 1 M. togra inter of bit appli slight His 1 to gi’ he ce W “Ste sertet Brow Ster ink were pictt Bapt print the b the i other relief Th was years state was i philo: scope, tion < it by than Th figure Crum of bir »o d tnitir Ha no me ment applic from letter the ce exam: first s Woul Th in the Lond TRA Ct le pa This whic coni] grav dear press pulat W Whic 1 time reade appli did r
