STEEL ENGRAVING – “THE NEWSPAPER” from the original painting by T.S. Goode, engraved by C.W. Sharpe, published in 1884.  This engraving is in very good condition, and has rounded corners at the top.  The engraving measures 9 ¼” x 7 1/8”, and is matted to 12” x 16” for easy framing.

            This picture, in simplicity of subject and in the delicate finish of its execution, reminds us of some of the old Dutch painters; it represents the interior of a cottage or farmhouse, wherein is seated a rather elderly looking man absorbed in the contents of a newspaper; not a huge double broad sheet, such as we are now accustomed to see – which no living creature could peruse in a day, advertisements and all – but a modest four pages of moderate size, into which space, at the period when the picture is presumed to have been painted, journalists were able to compress all that the world cared to know. The reader is conning the news very leisurely, and he seems to be enjoying a rest on his return from the neighboring market town, where he has doubtless been selling home produce and has earned himself a little literary indulgence.  The artist has placed him in an easy and natural attitude, and has made the most of very scanty materials; the folds of the newspaper are well managed, and so is the position of the reader’s head.  Mr. Goode’s pictures are rare in England, and indeed they are not often found.  A careful rather than a prolific painter, we are not aware that he exhibited at all during his later years: the last of his exhibited works appeared, we believe, at the London Royal Academy about 1832.

IMPORTANT TO NOTE

Antique prints, engravings, and lithographs are printing processes, which use steel, copper, stone or wood blocks or plates to produce a picture on paper.

Most antique prints and engravings, which are seen on the internet today, are bookplates.  Because they are pages from a book, there are multiple copies in existence.  This does not, however, mean that they are "reproductions" that have been printed recently.  Because they were, at some point, part of books, some have been preserved in excellent condition, while others show signs of age, as yellow spots or darkness on the edge of the page from being handled.

Engravings, and lithographs are high quality pieces of art, as it took a highly trained artist many hours of work to produce one.  Although there may be multiple copies still in existence, the date of the item should be stated, thus giving the buyer an idea of its age.