STEEL ENGRAVING – “BATHERS SURPRISED BY A SWAN” from the original painting by William Etty, engraved by E.J. Portbury, published in 1878.  This circular engraving is in very good condition.  The engraving measures 8 ½” x 8 ½”, and is matted to 11” x 14” for easy framing.

      William Etty was born at York, England, in 1787, and died in his native city in 1849.  His pictures are remarkable for their exquisite coloring, - most of his subjects being chosen with a view to display that quality.  It has been said that his drawing was sometimes at fault, but that his coloring was always perfect.  Many of his composition were purely imaginative, or served to illustrate some incident in a poem or legend.  In these he displayed a breadth and grandeur of conception fully in keeping with the technical excellence of his work.  He painted a very large number of pictures, as may by judged from the fact that no less than two hundred and thirty - many of which were of large size - were exhibited by him during successive years at the British Royal Academy.  For many years after his career as an artist began Etty’s genius failed to obtain the recognition it deserved.  His style did not accord with the prevailing taste.  But in spite of the discouraging reception with which his earlier works were received, he continued with unabated enthusiasm to pursue the path he had chosen, and finally won a complete, if tardy, acknowledgment of his abilities.  Several of his best works are now in the Scottish National Gallery, while others are scattered throughout the public and private collection of the United Kingdom.  Few have hitherto been engraved, which is the more to be regretted, as most of their subjects are peculiarly suitable for reproduction.

     “Bathers Surprised by a Swan” is an admirable example of the general style of the artist.  The prevalent idea is conceived in a truly poetic spirit, and, while the subtle charms of color which captive the beholder in the original, are wanting in the engraving, the unity of the composition has been preserved, and the exquisite delicacy of treatment faithfully reproduced.

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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