STEEL ENGRAVING – “ETON COLLEGE, FROM THE LOCK” from the painting by William Evans, engraved by James Redaway, printed in 1883.  This engraving is in very good condition.  The engraving measures 7 1/4” x 10 1/2”, and is matted to 12” x 16” for easy framing.

Eton College consists of two quadrangles, in one of which are the chapel and school, with the foundation scholars’ dormitory; in the other the library, the Provosts’ house, and the lodgings of the Fellows.  The chapel, conspicuous here as in every view of the buildings, is of beautiful proportions.  It was begun, according to Mr. Stanton, in 1441, but the date of its completion is uncertain.  In 1700 it was altered and repaired, under the direction of Sir Christopher Wren, who thought proper to introduce many very inappropriate designs of Grecian architecture, to disturb the ancient gravestones, and to conceal several of the mural monuments behind new wainscoting and an altar-piece.  Sir Christopher’s adornments, however, are no longer permitted to offend the eye and taste, and the interior of the chapel was restored in the late 1800’s.  Beyond the cloisters, in which are the residences of the Provosts and Fellows, lie the college gardens, and still farther in the same direction are the playing fields, the memory of which will always live for Etonians, as they did for the Duke of Wellington.  The boys of Eton are an influential portion of the English community, for nearly every noble family in the land has a scion there.  When they invited Sir Frederick Roberts to a dinner, and presented him with a sword of honor – a distinction accorded to no general since the Duke of Wellington – if we may believe his own words, he felt it to be one of the very highest among the numerous marks of favor with which he was received in the country.  The college buildings have a corresponding importance in the eyes of the upper classes; there must be hundreds, nay, even thousands, not of men only, but of fond mothers, sisters, and cousins, to whom every line of this engraving recalls an old friend.     

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.