This item is a steel engraving from the painting by W. Bouguereau called “WATCH AND WARD.”  It was engraved by G. Bertinot and published in 1877.  The engraving is in very good condition.  The engraving measures 10 3/8” x 7 ½”, and is matted to 11” x 14” for easy framing.

      Bouguereau’s pencil was never more charmingly inspired than when employed on the composition of the homelike picture, ‘Watch and Ward,’ which has been so spiritedly engraved by the French engraver, Bertinot. Bouguereau has painted so many Italian women and children, that the introduction of a pretty American, or English women, perhaps, as a guardian angel for one of his sleeping babes, will be accepted with pleasure by his admires, and as a relief from his so often repeated stories. Nothing can be more charming than the figure of the sleeping child, or the thoughtful face of the young mother who is watching over it.  Originally the picture was owned by Mr. Robert L. Stuart, of New York City, and was one of the most admired works in the New York Centennial Loan Exhibition.

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.