_Inscriptions in Stone_ (see Chap. XVII., Plates I., II., and XXIV., and pp. 292, 36).--The grain of stone does not generally allow of very fine thin strokes, and the "thicks" and "thins" therefore tend to differ much less than in pen-work. Their origin, moreover, is much less easily traced to the _tool_--_i.e._ the chisel--and the difference was less in the [p376] early inscriptions (see Plate II.) than we are now accustomed to (see Plate XXIV.): perhaps it may be explained as a fashion set by penmanship (see p. 241).
_Inscriptions on Wood_ are frequently in relief (see raised letters, p. 377), matching the carved ornament. Incised letters may be painted or gilded to make them show more clearly.
_Sign-Writing and Brush-Work._--Inscriptions, such as shop signs, notices, &c., painted on wood or stone, require--besides a practical knowledge of materials--a considerable facility with the brush or "pencil." Directness and freedom of workmanship are most desirable.[116]
A suitable brush will make letters closely resembling pen letters. But the pen _automatically_ makes letters with a uniform precision, which it is neither desirable nor possible for the brush to _imitate:_ and greater skill is required to control the brush, which in the hand of a good "Writer" will be permitted to give its own distinct character to the lettering (see also p. 292, and fig. 164).
The brush is properly used for temporary inscriptions, especially on the surface of painted wood or stone, but, for more important work, _incising_ or _carving_ (painted if desired) are to be preferred as [p377] being more permanent[117] and preserving the original form[118] of the lettering.
OF INSCRIPTIONS GENERALLY (_See also Chapter XIV. and pp. 350-353_)
_Alphabets._--For practical purposes the best letters are the _Roman Capitals_, _Roman Small-Letters_, _and Italics_. These are susceptible of very decorative treatment without loss of legibility. And there are many varieties of the pure Roman Capital (see figs. 203-207), besides the "Gothicised" Roman and the simple "Gothic" Capitals, which are all essentially readable.
_Different Sizes of Capitals_ in inscriptions in wood, stone, metal, &c., are generally kept approximately equal in "weight" (see p. 328). NOTE.--A downward decrease in height of the letters is common in early inscriptions (p. 410).