The collection of pictures bequeathed by Mr. Vernon to the British nation contains but a single drawing; that one, however, Mr. Haghe’s “Council of War at Courtray,” well merits the position it holds among the British national art-treasures.  It was purchased by its former owner from the gallery of the London New Society of Painters in Watercolors, of which institution the artist was president.  The “Hall of Courtray” was one of his earliest contributions; the acquisition of it by Mr. Vernon is another among the many proofs of the buyer’s taste and judgment.  The picture brings before us a very elaborately carved chimneypiece, of hard stone, which stands in the council room of the hall; it bears the date 1595, but is presumed to be much older, and is almost the only perfect remains of the ancient edifice, except another fine chimneypiece in a lower room of the hall.

Mr. Haghe is a native of Belgium, but he has been many years resident in England, so as to become naturalized there; his fine watercolor drawing and his numerous lithographic works – the majority of them subjects sketched in his own country – are too well known among the amateurs of Art in England and on the Continent to demand comment.  In his peculiar department he is unrivaled, and when we recollect that he works only with his left hand, the right having received injury in childhood, we are surprised at the minuteness, delicacy, and correctness of his architectural details.  The subject of this “Council of War” is a presumed meeting of the magistrates of the town, who, in the expectation of an attack, are discussing with the chiefs of the company of arquebusiers the best mode of defense.  From the costumes of the group we should judge the period presumed to be represented to be about the latter end of the sixteenth century, when the Netherlands were engaged in their efforts to shake off the dominion of Spain.  In composition and in execution this is a work of very high merit. 

STEEL ENGRAVING – “COUNCIL OF WAR AT COURTRAY” from the painting by L. Haghe, engraved by J. Godfrey, published in 1884.  This engraving is in very good condition.  The engraving measures 7 ½” x 10”, and is matted to 12” x 16” for easy framing.

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.