THE FIGHT INTERRUPTED

Mulready must always have been a diligent student of that generally troublesome class of the great human family - boys. They seem to have been for a long time his stock-models; boys with jackets on and jackets off; boys who had outgrown their outer garments, and boys whose coats and trousers appear to have outgrown them; boys pugnacious, and boys of a pacific turn of mind; in fact, boys of every kind that suggested to him character for the display of fun or mischief. ‘The Fight Interrupted’ is one of the best known of the pictures of this distinguished painter. The scene lies in the playground of a school, in which the youngsters have mustered to witness an “affair of honour” between two of their companions, one of them a bigger boy than other, and evidently the bully of the school. But the fight is interrupted by the entrance of the master; he is lecturing the smaller of the two combatants on the enormity of his offense - as it seems, without much effect, for the brave little fellow stands with his legs rather far apart and clenched his fists, still looking defiance at his opponent. Two boys appear to be making an appeal to the master on behalf of their respective champions, of whom the bigger rests his back against the pump in the playground, to which he has resorted for purposes of ablution.

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, ect. 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.

Shipping and Handling - First Class Mail $4.50