STEEL ENGRAVING – “THE SIREN AND THE DROWNED LEANDER” from the original sculpture by Joseph Durham, engraved by R.A. Artlett, published in 1878.  This engraving is in very good condition.  The engraving measures 5 ¾” x 7 ½”, and is matted to 11” x 14” for easy framing. 

    The old fable tells us how Leander nightly swam the Hellespont to visit his beloved Hero, and how the Siren, whose jealousy had been awakened, caused a storm to arise in which Leander was drowned.  The demi-goddess of the sea now mourns over the destruction, which she caused:

                        “There he lies, his head across my knee,

                        And lips more chilly than the chilly waves.

                        *        *      *        *       *          *         *         *

                        She says this love hath bribed her to his deed,

                        The glancing of his eyes did so bewitch her;

                        Oh, bootless theft! Unprofitable meed!

                        Love’s treasury is sack’d, but she no richer.”

     Such briefly is the story, which the sculptor has taken for the subject of his group.  The drowned Leander lies with nerveless limbs, supported by his destroyer, who now gazes with agonized and repentant eyes on the wreck that she has made.  The complete lesion of the muscles in the male figure is admirably rendered, without destroying its symmetry, or diminishing the idea of strength, which when living, must have animated the bold swimmer.  The grouping also is well managed, so that neither figure is likely to overbalance to the other in the attention of the spectator.  The title implies connection with the legend, and suggests an explanation of the meaning of the work; but even without this assistance, the motive could not easily be misconstrued.  The year of its exhibition at the British Royal Academy, the group was one of the most prominent objects of the collection.

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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