STEEL ENGRAVING – “THE REJECTED POET” from the original painting by William Powell Frith, engraved by C.W. Sharpe, published in 1878.  This engraving is in very good condition.  The engraving measures 9 1/8” x 7 1/8”, and is matted to 11” x 14” for easy framing.

       A familiar incident in the lives of two well-known literary people of the last century has been illustrated by the artist in this picture.  The lady is the accomplished Lady Mary Wortley Montague, and her companion Alexander Pope.  After Lady Mary’s return from Turkey, whither she had accompanied her husband, and from whence she wrote such charming letters, Pope induced her to reside near him at Twickenham, on the banks of the Thames, a few miles from London.  The two had long been friends, and the lady, who has a most accomplished coquette, may have been flattered by the conquest she had made of the author of the “Essay of Man.”  The two, however, did not long agree.  Pope was vain, and morbidly sensitive to anything like ridicule, and Lady Mary, in spite of the many brilliant qualities of her mind, was frivolous and changeful.  A quarrel soon took place between the ill-assorted pair, and henceforward they engaged in a literary conflict, firing epigrams at each other with the most fury, until Pope was compelled to admit that he was beaten.  The lady’s light shafts of wit were resistless, and silenced her less active if more powerful adversary.  The immediate cause of the quarrel is related by a biographer of Lady Mary to have been that Pope at some ill-judged moment, when she least expected such thing, broke into a passionate declaration of love, and in spite of her efforts to appear grave, it provoked an uncontrollable burst of laughter.  No man likes to be laughed at by a pretty woman to whom he has been making love, and even philosophers are not proof against ridicule or the toothache.  It is therefore not surprising that a man as sensitive and vain as Pope should never forgive the offense.

     Mr. Frith has depicted the scene with great spirit.  The little misshapen poet is utterly crestfallen, and his face shows plainly the thoughts, which are passing within, while the lady seems to have abandoned herself to merriment, every fresh peal of laughter adding to the torture of her victim.  The Cupid and Psyche in the background are in humorous contrast to the central figures.  William Powell Frith is a native of Studley, Yorkshire, where he was born in 1819.

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, 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.

SHIPPING AND HANDLING - First Class Mail $4.50