STEEL ENGRAVING – “THE WRITING MASTER” from the painting by Frans Van Mieris, engraved by R. Wallis, published in 1876.  This engraving is in very good condition.  The engraving measures 8 1/8” x 6 ¼”, and is matted to 11” x 14” for easy framing.

How this picture could ever acquired the name by which it is known, and, which we have therefore retained, seems inexplicable: there is nothing in the intellectual, well-looking, and well-dressed figure to indicate a man who earns his living by teaching the art of penmanship to the youngsters of his time. The books on the table, which is covered with a rich tapestried cloth, and the globe on his right hand, testify to his being a student of some kind; and the open manuscript-book before him suggests that he is simply in the act of mending a pen to enable him to continue his writing. Assuming his occupation to be that of a copyist - and the composition might admit of such construction, though it is far from probable - the proper title would have been ‘The Scribe.’ But, whatever name the picture bears, the work itself is remarkably fine specimen of one of those famous Dutch genre-painters of the seventeenth century whose production enrich almost every gallery of repute in Europe where the works of the old master have a home.

       Frans Van Mieris, born in 1635 at Leyden, studied under Gerhard Dow, and with such an instructor he made so great progress that his works soon gave him a high reputation. Finished with the utmost elaboration of penciling, this quality never appears to be the result of great labor, but is free and masterly. He is known to have painted numerous portraits, and it is not unlikely that this “writing master” may be one of them, for not a few of his fancy pictures are miniature portraits treated as such. The treatment of this subject is striking and effective: the light, it will be seen, does not enter the apartment through the open archway, but through a window on the left, which is only made apparent by its illuminating the various objects on which it falls. This light is intensified by the introduction of a dark curtain that helps to give brilliancy to the picture. The natural attitude of the man, the modeling of the head and hands, the easy flow of the lines in the arrangement of his costume, are points of excellence which must commend themselves to all who examine the work carefully. The grace of Frans Mieris’s figures, and their entire freedom from vulgarity, constitute not the least of their attractive qualities.

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.

SHIPPING AND HANDLING - First Class Mail $4.50