"HOMELESS"

     The name of this painter is as familiar with us as it is in France, his native land; it may, indeed, be said, and almost without controversy, that no living artist has gained greater popularity in every quarter of the world into which modern Art has penetrated than Paul Gustave Dore. And this cannot appear surprising when one knows in what an infinite variety of ways his prolific pencil has been employed, and the innumerable channels through which it has circulated. Almost before he had reached manhood, and long prior to the time when he had become known as a painter, Mr. Dore’s designs for the illustrations of books and periodicals might be counted by thousands; such were the comprehensives of his talents and the rapidity with which he worked. Within the last few years the Dore’s Gallery in London has borne ample testimony to the genius and labour of this artist in a succession of a oil-pictures, as diverse in subject as they are masterly in execution, both figures and landscape contending, as it were, for pre-eminence. In the former class of subjects his sympathies are undoubtedly with whatever is terrible, joyless, and sad, though in his illustrations of “Don Quixote” there is abundant evidence that he can be humorous when the occasion requires it; but these occasions are rather imposed upon him by what he engaged to do for others than by what he himself would select: in the one case he works of his own free-will; in the other, he works “to order.”

     Of the first of these two classes the picture here engraved is a most impressive example; it is a very small canvas, scarcely larger than our print, but worked out with infinite power, especially in the draperies which, without being over-elaborated, are most closely imitated by hold and, as it seems, rapid style of execution.

The dark eyes, round faces, and the dress of the children, proclaim them to be Spanish. ‘Homeless’ the poor little wanderers may be, but there are no signs of their being starvelings; on the contrary, faces and limbs are stout and well-nourished; still, there is an expressive appeal in the countenance of the elder, which is significant of distress. The group is very picturesque in arrangement and general treatment, and the colouring of the picture is uniformly excellent.

IMPORTANT TO NOTE

Antique prints, etchings, 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, lithographs, etc. 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 in the auction, thus giving the buyer an idea of it's age.

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