STEEL ENGRAVING – “SAMSON” from the painting by E.  Armitage, engraved by W. Greatbach, published in 1878.  This engraving is in very good condition.  The actual engraving measures 6 ½” x 10”, and is matted to 12” x 16” for easy framing.

     The book of Judges relates that the Philistines whipped Samson, put out his eyes, and made him grind in the prison-house. Milton makes him, in a soliloquy, lament that he has been

                        “Made of my enemies the scorn and gaze

                        The grind in brazen fetters, under task

                        With this heaven-gifted strength? Oh, glorious strength,

                        Put to the labor of a beast - debased

                        Lower than bond slave! Promise was, that I

                        Should Israel from Philistine yoke deliver;

                        Ask for this great deliver now, and find him

                        Eyeless in Gaza, at the mill, with slaves,

                        Himself in bonds, under Philistine yoke.”

     This is the scene that Mr. Armitage has undertaken, while the cruel inhabitants are jeering at him from behind the bars of his prison, at the instigation of a pretty woman, whom the blind and hopeless giant will never see. There is much pathos in the artist’s conception, and strength in the contrast of the mighty man scourged by a miserable little snapper-in, whom his little finger, almost, could annihilate, to say nothing of the smirking monarch who witnesses with imbecile glee the sufferings and disgrace of his superior. Mr. Armitage was born in London in 1817; he studied under Paul Delaroche, and has made a solid success in his historical compositions, such as  “The Battle of Balaklava,” “Pharaoh’s Daughter,” and “Burial of a Christmas Martyr in the Time of Nero.” He was elected associate of the Royal Academy in 1867, and academician in 1874.

IMPORTANT TO NOTE

Antique prints, etchings, 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 in the auction, thus giving the buyer an idea of it's age.

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