STEEL ENGRAVING - "THE MITHERLESS BAIRN" from the painting by Thomas Faed, engraved by J. Reed, published in 1865. This engraving is in excellent condition. The picture measures 4 5/8” x 6 ¾”, and is matted to 11" x 14" for easy framing.

     The pathetic picture, entitled The Mitherless Bairn, will strike with pity every observer; the poor wanderer is contrasted with the care bestowed on the comfortably housed and comfortably fed cottager, where he has called to solicit alms. The mother, feeling for what may by the possible fate of her own children, is the demonstrative figure in the painting, and its whole effect is pleasing and affective.

     Thomas Faed was born at Edinburgh, Scotland, in 1826. He is the youngest of three brothers all distinguished in art. He painted The Mitherless Bairn in 1855, it being pronounced “the best picture of the year.”

IMPORTANT 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, 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, thus giving the buyer an idea of its age.

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