STEEL ENGRAVING – “THE MAID OF ORLEANS” from the painting by Mrs. E.M. Ward, engraved by T. Ballin, printed in 1884.  This engraving is in very good condition.  The engraving measures 9” x 7 ½”, and is matted to 12” x 16” for easy framing.

        The story of Joan of Arc, as she is called by the time-honored accounts, is among the most famous in the pages of history.  Speaking of the time when she first began to be inspired with thoughts of saving her country, Lord Mahon, in his “Historical Essays,” says as follows: – “Her young heart even at that time beat high with enthusiasm for her native France, now beset and beleaguered by the island strangers.  Her young fancy loved to dwell on those distant battles, the din of which scarcely reach her quite village, but each apparently hastening the ruin of her fatherland.  We can picture to ourselves how earnestly the destined heroine – the future leader of armies – might question those chance travelers whom, as we are told, she delighted to relieve, and for whose use she would often resign her own chamber, as to each fresh report from the changeful scene of war.”

     Mrs. Ward’s remarkably interesting picture, exhibited at the London Royal Academy in 1867, was suggested by the passage in Lord Mahon’s book, which we have quoted.  Though apparently occupied with her domestic duties, the thoughts of Joan are fixed on the armed warrior resting awhile in the village inn where she is employed.  The two figures are very effectively “situated,” and most expressive in conception.  The dog licking the hand of the grim soldier is a touching and pretty episode in the composition, which is throughout treated, like all this lady’s works, with great artistic skill.

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.

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