STEEL ENGRAVING – “THE ALMS-DEEDS OF DORCAS” from the original painting by W.C.T. Dobson, engraved by H. Bourne, published in 1878.  This engraving has rounded corners at the top, and is in very good condition.  The engraving measures 9 1/8” x 7 ¾”, and is matted to 11” x 14” for easy framing.

    Saint Luke briefly tells us in the ninth chapter of the Acts, that a certain disciple of Joppa, named Tabitha or Dorcas, was “full of good-works and alms-deeds.”  Upon this slight foundation, the artist had ample space to erect a fabric of his imagination.  Tending the sick, clothing the naked, and feeding the hungry were most probably the good deeds alluded to by the Evangelist, and accordingly we have examples of all three introduced into the composition.  We may understand that Dorcas has sought out some poor people living in the wilderness near Joppa, whose wants she is in the act of relieving.  Under the rude tent of matting, the attendant is offering drink to the parched lips of a moribund sufferer, while Dorcas herself is distributing food and clothing to the group around her.

    To the artist, however, the opportunity to exercise his fancy in a pictorial embodiment of the Christian virtues was of less importance than the possibilities of the subject for the display of his skill as a colorist.  The deep rich hues of an Oriental landscape, and the bright colors appropriate to the costumes of the time and country, supplied an excellent field for the exercise of this quality, and it is as an example of rich coloring that the original picture is most remarkable.    The face of Dorcas is very beautiful, and her eyes are raised to heaven in a plea to end such suffering, as suggested by the family which surrounds her.  The original picture was in Queen Victoria’s collection at Osborne, Isle of Wight, in the 1800’s.

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, 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.

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