STEEL ENGRAVING – “GANYMEDE” from the original sculpture by E.S. Bartholomew, engraved by J.H. Baker, published in 1878.  This engraving is in very good condition.  The engraving measures 8 1/8” x 6 ¼”, and is matted to 11” x 14” for easy framing.

     Horace tells us how the bird if Jove “From Ida’s top he bore the Phrygian prize” and it may be presumed that it is this event in the mythological history of Ganymede that the sculptor has adopted for his subject.  The legend is that Ganymede was a beautiful youth of Phrygia, who, while hunting, was carried off by the command of Jove, to become cup-bearer to the gods in place of Hebe.  The repose of the figure is not quiet in accordance with the text; but in departing from the spirit of the legend, the sculptor has only followed the example set by other artists.  The eagle is merely introduced as an emblematic adjunct, to maintain a connection with the legend, – the artist evidently intending that the figure of the boy should be the prime object of attention.  This treatment is not only justifiable, but is made necessary by the limits of the art, which preclude the possibility of a close adherence to the fable.  Apart from these incongruities of the birds flight with the boy upon his back, the work is meritorious, and, considered as the production of a young artist, full of promise.  The figure of Ganymede is of great beauty.  The modeling is very fine, and aside from its connection with the bird, the pose is graceful and natural.

      Mr. Bartholomew, the sculptor, was by birth an American, whose genius, however, was not suffered to ripen.  He died while studying in Rome, in 1858, being at the time still a young man.  He produced several works of sufficient merit to give rise to the belief that had he lived, he would have reached a high position among the sculptors of his time. 

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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