STEEL ENGRAVING - "A REST ON THE HILL" from the painting by Frederick Richard Pickersgill, engraved by L. Ridgway, published in 1865. This engraving is in excellent condition. The picture measures 6 3/8” x 4 ¾”, and is matte to 11" x 14" for easy framing.

The incident, which Mr. Pickersgill has chosen for the subject of his picture, recommends itself by its perfect simplicity. The mother, doubly laden with her infant, and the basket filled with domestic supplies, is, we may imagine returning from the market town.  The hill has been partially climbed, and she has paused for a few moments to rest on a convenient bank, under the shade of some trees. Her destination on the hilltop has been nearly reached, but a stile has yet to be crossed, and the reminder of the path leading to the cottage is steep.  The infant lies crowing in its mother’s lap, while in the laughter of her child a music which beguiles her of her weariness. The details of the composition are cleverly managed, and the spectator has no difficulty in catching the idea, which the artist intended to convey.

Frederick Richard Pickersgill, R.A., was born in London in 1820.  After a several minor successes, his picture of “The Burial of Harold,” which he exhibited in 1847, brought to him prominently before the public as one of the most promising artists of the time.  The picture was bought by the Nation for the House of Parliament, and the career of the painter has since been all that was predicted.  He was elected an associate of the Royal Academy in the year just mentioned, and in 1857 obtained the full rank of Academician.

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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