STEEL ENGRAVING – “THE FAWN” fro the original sculpture by C.B. Birch, engraved by R.A. Artlett, published in 1878.  This engraving is in very good condition.  The engraving measures 6” x 3”, and is matted to 11” x 14” for easy framing.

    This graceful and expressive group was submitted to the London Art Union in 1864, in response to an offer of a premium of six hundred pounds for the best work of the kind.  Fifteen sculptors competed for the prize, which the Council eventually awarded to Mr. Birch.  The work was at first entitled “The Wood Nymph,” but its name was afterwards changed to that under which it now appears.

    The group is a very charming and graceful composition.  The nymph is seated in an attitude of perfect freedom, nursing a fawn in her lap, while the doe stands beside her, sharing her caresses.  The action on all sides is easy, graceful, and natural, and there is a harmony in the disposition of the parts which any change would disturb.  The modeling of the girl’s figure is exquisitely graceful, every line exhibiting the freedom of youth, while the face is expressive of much tenderness and gentle pleasure.  Lightness and delicacy are shown in every part of the composition, and these qualities harmonize very completely with the nature of the subject. 

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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