This picture, as fair a representative of Meissonier’s genius as any other work, has long been admired for its exact exposition of the prevailing qualities of that artist.  The critic, seated on the painter’s chair, in front of a completed canvas, is learnedly digesting its salient features; while the artist, gazing in the same direction, his palette and brushes in his left hand, and his head thrown carefully to one side, awaits the admiration which the visitor is expected to express.  The value of the delineation resides primarily in its faithfulness as a transcript from life; but, though the fidelity has been carried to the last detail of texture, we have much more than a merely photographic reproduction of an actual scene: for, by the divine power of Art, the painter creates in every spectator the consciousness of an ideal, and colors with that ideal every part of the representation.  Note particularly the attitude of the fine old connoisseur – the gratefulness of the line with which he has disposed his limbs.  The two figures exhibit an interplay of lineal beauty.  Though painted many years ago, this picture still represents the author’s best style, and the picturesque costumes of the seventeenth century suggest a department in which Meissonier is often found.

            While not so fond as Gerome of reproducing the past, historically considered, and while inferior to him in constructive imagination, Meissonier is, nevertheless, and has long been considered, very much his superior in the apprehension and reproduction of vital genre qualities.

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.