STEEL ENGRAVING – “THE SHRINE IN THE FOREST” from the original painting by W.Q. Ochardson, engraved by T. Brown, published in 1876.  This engraving is in very good condition.  The engraving measures 6 ¾ ” x 10 1/8”, and is matted to 11” x 14” for easy framing.”

From the signature and date on this picture, it appears to have been painted in 1868, soon after Mr. Orchardson had been elected an Associate of the British Royal Academy, but we find no record of it having ever been exhibited. It is very rare to see from the hand of this artist an outdoor scene, and especially one wherein trees and herbage occupy so large a space on the canvas as they do here: the former are so close and dense that no light penetrates them, while they are so arranged in the composition as to exclude from the eye all but a mere fragment of sky. In the midst of the dimness and solitude is a rude shrine fixed to a tree, and in it is the tiny figure of “Our Lady,” to which, as the representative of the Virgin, a poor woman brings her child to ask a blessing upon the infant, or possibly to pray for its restoration to health, for a tear seems to be falling from the mother’s eye, as if her heart were heavy. The face is most expressive of earnest entreaty, and is pretty withal: the combined attitude of both mother and child is excellent in drawing and striking in its appeal. The picture is a most pleasing specimen of the artist’s pencil, and is painted in a manner that distinguishes it from his usual works.

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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