STEEL ENGRAVING – “A GENTLEMAN OF GONDA” from the etching by Mariano Fortuny, engraved by J. C. Armytage, published in 1880.  This engraving is in excellent condition.  The picture measures 6 ½” x 4”, and is matted to 11” x 14” for easy framing.

         Etching is rightly described as “a highly concentrated kind of drawing,” by a well-known writer on Art, who also observes, “There are a few good modern etchers, but very few:’ among these Mr. Fortuny ranks highly. It is obviously a branch of Art which requires minute genius, and, if we may use the phrase, perceptive power and skill, the greatest delicacy of manipulation, with much sensitiveness as to effect. Every line must be made to tell and each stroke to possess its own value. The etcher’s art is of necessity void of all meretriciousness, deriving the strength of its beauty from the power of simplicity. Mr. Fortuny varied his labours as a painter in both oil and water-colours by executing a large number of admirable etchings, one of which is here engraved. It is full of character and expression; especial skill, too, is manifested in depicting the material of the coat. The picture displays a touch of satire on the part of the artist at the evident suavity and complacency of this well-dressed ‘Gentleman of Gonda,’ though it is perfectly free from all vulgarity; and, if there is not great grace in the subject, there is much in its execution, together with consummate skill.

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, 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 in the auction, thus giving the buyer an idea of its age.

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