STEEL ENGRAVING – “BRINGING HOME THE DEER” from the painting by Abraham Cooper, engraved by J.T. Willmore, printed in 1884.  This engraving is in very good condition.  The engraving measures 6 ½” x 8 ½”, and is matted to 12” x 16” for easy framing.

     What will be the verdict of posterity on some of the groups in which British animal painters have set forth their powers we know not.  Abraham Cooper enjoyed in his day a considerable reputation as an artist, being indeed well known in the sporting world, where his skill in depicting the “points” of a horse made him very frequently mentioned.  The charges in some of his war scenes have seldom been surpassed.  He paid great and continued attention to the various incidents connected with sporting in the Scottish Highlands, every point of which he has elucidated, picturing the ponies, dogs, and people peculiar to that division of Great Britain with skill, accuracy, and judgment.  The picture, “Bringing Home The Deer,” may be accepted as a favorable example of his style and talent.  Two sturdy Highlanders are seen in one of the mountain passes bringing home a deer.  The animal, which had “touched a hundred hill-tops” since the mists of the morning had been upon them, is now descending into the valley, tied to the back of a rough horse, the prey of the hunters.

    The only dog used upon such occasion is the great Highland stag-hound, which is seldom let loose until the deer is wounded: he soon brings him to bay, and frequently a terrific fight ensues, when a good Bran or Buscan furnishes a sheath for the strong antlers of the dying denizen of the  “land of brown heath,” before he yields his life to the skene dhu of the stalker.  The pony used to carry home the deer is always a Highland garron, and very often he is of size much smaller than the burden he bears.

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 - Priority Mail $7.50