Hewing Collection

Coal / Durham Pit Pony
Pitmen hewing the coal, South Durham : a pit pony waits to haul the coal away

The workman hewing the figure out of the marble (engraving)
2808427 The workman hewing the figure out of the marble (engraving) by English School, (19th century); Private Collection; (add.info.: The workman hewing the figure out of the marble)

Codex 132 Livre 14 Chap. 25 Two Men Sawing Wood, from De Universo
XIR177155 Codex 132 Livre 14 Chap.25 Two Men Sawing Wood, from De Universo by Rabanus Maurus (c.780-856) 1023 (vellum) by Italian School, (11th century); Abbey of Monte Cassino, Cassino

Ms 173 f. 41 Historiated initial I depicting a monk and a lay chopping
JHG166017 Ms 173 f.41 Historiated initial I depicting a monk and a lay chopping and pruning a tree, from Moralia in Job by Pope Gregory the Great (vellum) by French School

Pitmen Hewing the Coal (engraving)
729294 Pitmen Hewing the Coal (engraving) by English School, (19th century); Private Collection; (add.info.: Pitmen Hewing the Coal. Illustration initialled M W R)

Scene inside an English coal mine, early 19th century (engraving)
KW1073727 Scene inside an English coal mine, early 19th century (engraving) by English School, (19th century); Private Collection; (add.info.: A young man extracting coal from the mine face)

Stone Mason 1827
" The business of the stone mason consists of hewing and squaring stone and marble, in cutting them for the purposes of building". Date: 1827

March, fishing and pruning trees, Pisces, illustration from the Almanach des Bergers
XIR345824 March, fishing and pruning trees, Pisces, illustration from the Almanach des Bergers, 1491 (xylograph) (b/w photo) by Le Rouge, Pierre (fl)

Pitmen Hewing the Coal in a Mine, 1871

The Month of December, detail of men cutting down trees, c. 1400 (fresco)
XIR239978 The Month of December, detail of men cutting down trees, c.1400 (fresco) by Bohemian School, (15th century); Castello del Buonconsiglio, Trento

Ms 131k Different species of tree and sawing logs, from Traite de Fortifications
XIR165540 Ms 131k Different species of tree and sawing logs, from Traite de Fortifications (pen & ink and w/c on paper) by Masse, Claude (1652-1737); Min

Underground scene in coal mine in the Newcastle-upon-Tyne area of England: Miners hewing coal and carrying it away in corves (baskets). From Rev. Isaac Taylor Scenes of British Wealth London 1823

A coal miner cleaning up after work with the help of his wife. Before the days of piped water and pit-head baths, after a day hewing coal underground the miner had only a tub on the living room floor

Pitmen Hewing the Coal in a Mine, 1871

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"Hewing: The Art of Shaping and Extracting" In the depths of Durham Pit Pony, amidst the darkness and dust, pitmen toiled relentlessly, hewing through layers of coal. Their sweat-soaked brows glistened as they swung their pickaxes with unwavering determination. Each strike echoed through the cavernous mine, a testament to their strength and resilience. Meanwhile, in another realm entirely, a skilled workman meticulously chiseled away at a block of marble. With each precise stroke, he brought forth a figure that seemed to come alive before his very eyes. His hands danced across the stone's surface like an artist conducting an intricate symphony. Across time and space, from Codex 132 Livre 14 Chap. 25 to Ms 173 f. 41 Historiated initial I, images emerged depicting men sawing wood with synchronized precision. Their rhythmic movements created harmonious melodies as they transformed rough timber into refined pieces fit for construction or warmth. Not limited to wood or stone alone, hewing found its place within the depths of English coal mines too. Engravings captured scenes where brave souls ventured into treacherous tunnels armed only with their tools and courage. They hacked away at solid rock formations tirelessly until precious black gold was set free. The art extended beyond mere labor; it became intertwined with nature itself. From March's fishing expeditions to pruning trees depicted in Pisces illustrations from Almanach des Bergers', humans shaped their environment by carefully selecting which branches would thrive and which must be sacrificed for growth. Even centuries ago in frescoes such as "The Month of December, " men wielded axes against towering trees during winter's embrace—a timeless reminder that hewing has long been essential for survival and progress alike. Through manuscripts like Ms 131k Traite de Fortifications', we glimpse different species of trees being felled while logs are sawn methodically, revealing the intricate knowledge required to manipulate nature's resources.